children's charities has raised in excess of $51,000.

Chairperson of the Coalition for the Protection of Children Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper credited VSB staff for the smooth running and success of the event.

Scheduled to run for two hours, the Telethon was extended an extra hour because of the strong response from viewers.

In the first hour of the Telethon, Mrs. Cooper said $30,000 was pledged. And while businesses came out in support of the three charities -- the Physical Abuse Centre, the Coalition for the Protection of Children and the Institute of Child and Family Support -- the majority of pledges came from the general public.

"We realised we have a lot of support out there, largely from women who have children,'' Mrs. Cooper said.

And she reminded members of the public who still want to make pledges to make cheques out to "The Consolidated Fund'' and deposit them to accounts at the Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Sons and the Bank of Bermuda.

Mrs. Cooper said the newly formed Consolidated Fund will be making the Telethon an annual event.

"I think the public knows that because we don't have a professional fundraiser and the administration is made up of volunteers, every single penny raised will go directly to the services,'' she said.