Lisa on cloud nine after radio debut

Reporter: Rosalyn Roden
Date published: 20 December 2016


AN AMBITIOUS charity fundraiser stepped out of her comfort zone to fulfil her dream of reporting the weather.

Dr Kershaw's fundraising champion Lisa Pearson was live on air at Revolution 96.2 yesterday morning to deliver the cloudy forecast.

But Lisa was hoping for the excitement of thunderstorms and hurricanes as her voice sounded out across Oldham.

The income generation manager has always dreamed of reading the weather and even included "be a radio DJ" on her fundraising bucket list.

Natural

She joined breakfast presenter Elliot Eastwick and Jackie O'Malley on the 6am "Waking Up With Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside!" show.

Lisa said: "It was brilliant. Apparently, I was a natural according to Elliot.

"It was a very different way to start off a Monday morning ­- and really interesting to see how the show works.

"The problem was it was grey and overcast. I was hoping for thunderstorms or hurricanes, torrential rain or flooding, anything but grey.

"But working with Elliot and Jackie was brilliant. I've said they know where I am if they're ever off sick."

Lisa had been interviewed on Revolution about the hospice before but had never been given the chance to read the weather.

For the past three years, she has been keen to take on the task and included her wish on a list of fundraising challenges in the run-up to her 40th birthday.

The opportunity arose at a charity auction at Clough Manor in aid of Dr Kershaw's, for which the winning prize involved featuring on Rev 96.2.

Lisa seized the moment and put in her bid but was pipped to the post by Northwood Oldham director Mike Procter.

She said: "I was out-bid but he kindly paid the £70 which will be used to make sure there are presents for each of our patients on Christmas Day.

"He told me now I have the chance to be the weather girl."

She continued: "My dream to be a radio DJ is partly fulfilled.

"I would really like to do more of the interaction and banter.

"I can talk the hind legs off a donkey so when they were having banter I had to fight not to join in. Today made me realise that presenting is a lot harder than you think.

"The amount of buttons, knobs and switches and monitoring social media at the same time ­- Elliot's brain must work at 150mph to keep up."

"It's definitely put a tick in the box," she added.

"Now I feel I've got the bug."