15 Apr 2010 | Ref. 076/2010
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BAE Systems' Charity Challenge mascot takes to mile long run
Portsmouth, United Kingdom: Workers at Portsmouth Naval Base have gone the extra mile for charity today, taking part in a mile long fun run to mark the beginning of BAE Systems’ new partnership with The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund.
A group of BAE Systems employees put their best foot forward to run, walk and skip their way round the mile long circuit, to launch the two year partnership as part of the Company’s Charity Challenge programme, with one brave racegoer carrying a pound of weight for every pound he was sponsored and members of the business’ emergency rescue team running in full breathing apparatus.
Under the Charity Challenge initiative, workers at the yard will organise and take part in a whole host of events during the campaign, including raffles, dances and five-a-side football tournaments to raise funds for local charities. In addition to this, employees will also pledge their time and skills to help with volunteering projects.
Elliot Webber, Charity Coordinator at BAE Systems in Portsmouth, said: “Our employees felt it was important to support a charity which is close to us here in the yard. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund gives invaluable support to local children and we are excited that they are our partner charity for this fundraising campaign. I’m in no doubt that our workers will make this the most successful campaign yet.”
Clare Scherer of The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund commented: “We are delighted that we have been chosen by BAE Systems as its partner charity. With increasing numbers of Royal Marines and Royal Navy being deployed in Afghanistan, we are seeing a resulting impact on their families and an increased demand for our support, in addition to the many children that we already help. The money raised by BAE Systems’ employees will enable us to give men at war peace of mind.”
The partnership between The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund and BAE Systems is the second armed forces charity association for the Company in the Portsmouth area and comes only weeks after the Company announced its affiliation with The Royal British Legion.
BAE Systems is committed to contributing and helping the local communities in which it operates, with the Charity Challenge initiative providing valuable support to charities through company donations, as well as engaging employees in fundraising and volunteer activities.
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund provides direct support to children whose parents work, or have worked, for the Naval Service. Over the years, the areas the Children’s Fund provides support for have expanded and now include childcare, special needs education, days out and in-home support in times of crisis.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).
For further information, please contact:
Kristina Crowe, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 239 289 6232 Mob: +44 (0)7540628673
kristina.crowe@baesystems.com
Gillian Churchill, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 141 957 2150 Mob: +44 (0)7540628325
gillian.churchill@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
