Cillian Murphy (pictured) has been announced as the campaign ambassador for Radio Nova’s 2016 'Help Our Homeless’ Radiothon. The Dublin-based radio station aims to raise €40,000 in a live, on-air charity pledge-drive, to help fund Focus Ireland's work to tackle and prevent homelessness in the Greater Dublin area. The Radiothon will take place live on Radio Nova on February 17 and 18, 2016.

It is Nova's second year to run the Radiothon. In 2015 the station raised more than €30,000 for Focus Ireland, over two days of broadcasting. "The Radiothon represents an urgent appeal for donations to support Focus Ireland’s vital work for those those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness,” a statement from the station said. "The campaign comes as, for the first time, more than 5,000 people across Ireland are homeless. This includes more than 700 families and over 1,600 children across the country.”

Having come to prominence first in Kirsten Sheridan’s Disco Pigs in 2001, Murphy has enjoyed a stellar career on stage and screen. He starred as Scarecrow in Batman Begins (2005) – a role he reprised in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – and also picked up a plethora of awards and nominations for his performances in Neil Jordan’s Breakfast On Pluto, Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes The Barley and Christopher Nolan’s Inception. He is currently starring opposite Jamie Dornan in Anthropoid, directed by Sean Ellis and set for release later this year.

Speaking on Nova's Morning Glory breakfast show with Dee Woods and Marty Miller, the Cork-born Murphy made a direct appeal to the public to support the Radiothon. “Homelessness is a problem that is very, very visible in our cities around the country,” he said. “You can’t really escape it, so it’s something that I thought I’d help out with. The Radiothon is a great idea, very proactive and that’s the kinda thing I like to support.

"It’s hard to imagine what it’s like not to have a home,” he added, "but that’s the reality facing hundreds of families with children, individuals and young people across Ireland. Homelessness has a terrible impact on people’s lives, especially on the lives of children. We can all play our part and help by supporting the Radio Nova Radiothon which will raise money for Focus Ireland – who are working hard to support families and individuals during this incredibly stressful time.”

Radio Nova's CEO / Programme Director, Kevin Branigan, said he intends to build on the success of last year's Radiothon, increasing the target to €40,000.

“We were overwhelmed by the phenomenal support of our listeners last year to help us raise money for this vital cause,” Branagan said. "Sadly, the homeless crisis has deepened over the past 12 months and we will now hold another Radiothon to help Focus Ireland meet the increasing demand for their services. We are delighted and very grateful to have Cillian on board with us. We are confident that our 150,000 listeners will not be found wanting and will help us make this year’s event even bigger and better than ever.”

Focus Ireland is reacting to the reality that one third of the people now homeless is a child, a shocking reminder of just how serious the homeless crisis has become. A special call centre will be set-up at Radio Nova’s HQ in the Dublin docklands, with Focus Ireland staff manning the phones to accept donations during the 48 hours of charity pledge drive in mid-February.

“Our staff are working hard to support these families and everyone that comes into our services every day,” John O’Haire, Dublin Area Services Manager from Focus Ireland says, "but we really depend on donations to raise vital funds to make sure our services can cope with the rising demand. Every day Focus Ireland is changing the lives of hundreds of people who are struggling – people who are rough sleeping, and families that are squeezed into one room in emergency accommodation. Every donation will help us to directly support those who have lost their homes and also help fund our work to prevent others from becoming homeless in the first place.”

Radio Nova and Focus Ireland are now calling on the public to support the ‘The Help Our Homeless Radiothon’ on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 February.

Nova have set up a separate website and Facebook page for the Help Our Homeless Radiothon: www.homelessradiothon.ie