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We supported a diverse range of health charities and causes through ITV programmes in 2009, raising awareness by profiling them on air and raising funds through viewer voting.

This Morning Alzheimer’s campaign

Each year at Christmas, This Morning works together with viewers and celebrities to raise awareness and funds for a charity. The campaign for 2009 focused on the effect that Alzheimer’s disease can have on sufferers and their families, and raised money for The Alzheimer’s Society.

For over two weeks, This Morning ran daily films about people whose lives have changed because of Alzheimer’s. The campaign received support from well-known personalities who have experience of dealing with the disease, including Coronation Street’s Angela Lonsdale, presenter Tony Robinson, and X Factor contestant Danyl Johnson.

Inspired by the stories, ITV viewers donated nearly £250,000 in support of the Alzheimer’s Society – more than double our original fundraising target. We invited 70 people with dementia or Alzheimer’s and their carers to attend a party where we announced the total amount raised.

For more information: www.alzheimers.org.uk.

X Factor charity single for Great Ormond Street Hospital

The X Factor finalists went straight to number 1 in the singles charts in November 2009 with a cover of Michael Jackson’s song “You are not alone”, recorded to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals and has the broadest range of dedicated children’s healthcare specialists in the UK. It provides care for children suffering from illness and support for their families, and pioneers new treatments for childhood illnesses.

The single sold 193,000 copies in its first week and the X Factor stars raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Great Ormond Street Hospital, with all record company proceeds going to the charity.

For more information: www.gosh.org.

I’m a Celebrity… supports Malaria No More

In 2009, our reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! supported Malaria No More UK, a charity that aims to raise awareness about malaria and end the suffering that it causes. It is the first time that I’m a Celebrity… focused its support on just one charity.

Malaria is one of the world’s most serious diseases but it is preventable, for example by increasing the proportion of people in affected areas that use bed nets to avoid mosquito bites at night.

Over a three week period, the programme raised awareness about the charity and its work through a combination of on-air mentions, print and online coverage, and features in which the celebrities taking part in the show explained why the cause matters to them.

By donating money for every vote cast by viewers of I’m a Celebrity…, the show raised significant funds for a project to provide nearly a million people in Ghana with bed nets. The project is run by Malaria No More UK’s partner organisation, NetsforLife, which distributes nets and teaches people how to use them correctly.

For more information: www.malarianomore.org.uk/home.