Enterprising Star Trek fans host 24-hour podcast (From Watford Observer)

Watford General's SCBU and Amnesty International to benefit

1:11pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

A Kings Langley Star Trek enthusiast has boldly gone where no fan has gone before by hosting a 24-hour charity podcast dedicated to the hit show.

Wayne Emery, 28, of Whitlars Drive, hosted the show alongside crew mates Paul Drinkwater, 28, of Nash Mills and Marc Stamper, 37 of Andover, Hampshire - together they beamed their live non-stop broadcast across the galaxy from 8pm on Saturday, September 15, to 8pm Sunday, September 16.

The stunt has proved to be a logical one as more than £1,400 has already been raised for Amnesty International and Watford General Hospital 's Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) via their sponsorship page.

Mr Emery said the choice of charities fits with Star Trek’s vision of a future free from illnesses, with everyone enjoying equal rights and no one ever being denied their human rights.

However, he also has a personal reason for supporting the SCBU after complications with his wife Leanne’s pregnancy meant his newborn daughter Amy needed emergency resuscitation and monitoring.

He said: "My daughter was born last year but flat-lined during the delivery process and the staff there not only saved her life but made the whole experience less traumatic for us.

"Thanks to the way they worked and their dedication my daughter has come out with no damage whatsoever.

"It is a debt I can never really repay."

Mr Emery and Mr Drinkwater became best friends after meeting through their love of Star Trek as 13-year-old Kings Langley School pupils.

Along with Mr Stamper, they are behind the five-weekly Trek Mate podcasts which Mr Emery says takes up at least 12 hours of each of their free time every week.

Mr Emery, a coach driver taking visitors to and from The Making of Harry Potter at Leavesden Studios , said: "The podcast went so well, we had people joining us from America, Japan and Australia.

"We got to spend 24 hours being really geeky, having a lot of fun and raising money for charity."

The group were provided with prizes to give away to the top donators including two silver tickets to the upcoming Destination Star Trek London and a brand new iPad.

Mr Emery admitted he was more than a little nervous before the start of the live broadcast but says the motivation of the cause they were supporting got them through the gruelling schedule.

He said: "I was petrified something would go wrong with the schedule and I started to flag around 9am but after some energy drinks I managed to cope."