BG Group, the global natural gas business, has today confirmed that the BG Energy Challenge – UK event will take place in Plymouth, Devon from 10-12 July.
The multi-faceted team building and fundraising event will see employees from across the UK energy industry compete against each other in a bid to raise vital funds for overseas development agency CARE International and children’s medical research charity Sparks. In addition to raising £5,000 each for charity, teams will have to overcome two days of tough physical, intellectual and strategic challenges including activities such as orienteering, mountain biking, problem solving and complex construction.
Mark Carne, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, BG Group, said:
“Having taken part for the last two years, I know just how mentally and physically challenging the event can be. It provides a unique platform for companies to network and bond internally, whilst raising vital funds for our two chosen charities. We are extremely proud of the fundraising we have achieved to date and we are determined to improve on the £205,000 raised last year.”
Steve Backley OBE, Sparks Ambassador and captain of the charity team at the BG Energy Challenge 2007 – UK said:
“I was delighted to be given the opportunity to participate at last year’s event in Stirling, Scotland and wish this year’s charity team captain, Richard Dunwoody the best of luck! The Energy Challenge is a true test of stamina but the sense of achievement is fantastic, and the rewards for charities such as Sparks which are solely reliant on the donations of organisations like BG Group, are invaluable.”
“A proportion of the proceeds raised last year funded a Sparks research project into clubfoot prompting the identification of the gene which could be a possible cause. With this breakthrough we can work towards preventing other babies being born with clubfoot and aid us in our long term goal to ensure to all babies are born healthy and stay healthy.”
The BG Energy Challenge 2008 – UK, organised in collaboration with Challenger World, also supports CARE International’s work with over 55 million disadvantaged people in 70 countries across the globe.
Geoffrey Dennis, CEO, CARE International, said:
“CARE’s long standing relationship with the BG Energy Challenge has helped us tackle poverty in the poorest regions in the world. The key to our work is creating lasting change in these communities that will positively and permanently impact people’s lives. We do this by partnering and building relationships with businesses and governments who are vital to continuing our sustainable work in the long term. In the countries we work in, every penny counts, so the generous funds raised by the BG Energy Challenge are incredibly important to our work.”
Since 1996 BG Energy Challenge events have raised over £3.7 million for various charities worldwide. Events are held in Brazil, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, and the US. Companies associated with the energy industry wishing to take part and help with the fundraising can apply online at: www.bg-energychallenge.com.
Notes to editors
BG Group
BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a strategy focused on connecting competitively-priced resources to specific, high-value markets. Active in 27 countries on five continents, BG Group has a broad portfolio of exploration and production, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), transmission and distribution and power generation business interests. BG Group seeks to support social and economic development in the communities where it does business by providing structured funding for community initiatives that match its skills transfer theme. For more information, visit www.bg-group.com
]BG Group’s sponsorship portfolio is called Energy for life. The BG Energy Challenge series is one of three sponsorships that make up the Energy for life portfolio. For further information visit www.bg-group.com/sponsorship
About CARE International
CARE is one of the world’s largest aid agencies, working in over 60 countries to fight poverty and helping more than 55 million people every year. Our long-term programmes tackle the deep-seated causes of poverty and we are always among the first to respond when disaster strikes. We remain with communities to help them rebuild their lives long after the cameras have gone. For more information about CARE, visit www.careinternational.org.uk.
About Sparks
Sparks is unique. It isn’t a single cause charity. Sparks is the only charity to fund cutting edge research across the whole spectrum of paediatric medicine. Working with doctors and scientists at leading universities and teaching hospitals across the UK, Sparks research work encompasses childhood cancers, childhood arthritis, meningitis, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, the risks associated with premature birth and many other conditions affecting babies and children in the early years of life. Sparks has already committed over £15 million to fund more than 180 research projects with the aim of giving more children the best of all starts in life…a healthy one.
About Intelligent Sport
Intelligent Sport® is the fastest growing team development concept in the world - specifically designed for business. Its primary aim is to give companies and their key people first-hand experience of the power of teamwork, drawing on strategy, intellect and physical ability to teach the skills and provide the inspiration that will make a difference to their performance. For more information, visit www.intelligentsport.com
For more information about the event and how you can get involved please contact:
Katrina Spring / BG Group
katrina.spring@bg-group.com
0118 929 2944
For media information, please contact:
Anna Grainger / brandRapport
agrainger@brand-rapport.com
01483 20 20 50
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