CARE Challenge launch virtual "Sole Mates" forum

Leading overseas development agency CARE International UK are to launch a brand new online forum, aiming to bring like-minded ?Sole Mate? fundraisers together in support of the charity?s work.

Coinciding with the launch of their 2008 portfolio of exciting outdoor teambuilding Challenge Events, which aim to raise well over ?1m for the charity?s overseas work and beat the 2007 total, it is anticipated that this new online facility will help tap into an overlooked market. Recent research has shown that almost 90% of CARE Challenge participants take part  in order to have fun with like-minded people, while the same percentage have made new friends through taking part. Nevertheless, CARE International UK?s in-house Challenge Events Team recognise that for enthusiastic individual fundraisers, it can be a challenge in itself getting a team of committed colleagues together to take part in an outdoor fundraising challenge in the first place, and in response to this have created an online ?Sole Mates? forum. This is designed to enable these like-minded people to get together, get involved, and form teams that can take part.

CARE Marketing Manager Ilaria Ida, explained: ?We?ve discovered that about two thirds of our CARE Challengers regularly use social networking websites such as Facebook or MySpace ? and mainly to keep in touch or connect with people. We took this concept to another level by inviting participants to sign up as a ?Sole Mate? to a specific event, and in doing so, join the growing online Challenge Community and be part of something special. The social networking phenomenon is a fantastic way to connect with likeminded people, and therefore the ideal means of reassuring individual CARE Challenge participants that they can still get involved with our events, even if they don?t have a team straight away?.

In 2008, the CARE Challenge Team at CARE UK will be organising and running 12 tough outdoor events for teams and individuals, based primarily in the UK, Ireland and Spain, and aimed at business professionals from a wide range of sectors. These include the classic 3 Peaks Challenge ? a tough 24-hour challenge open to teams of 5-7 walkers who?ll climb the UK?s 3 highest stand-alone mountains (Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales). Also on offer are their increasingly popular 3 Peaks Challenges in the Republic of Ireland and Spain ? the latter open to individuals and featuring a significant mountain biking element, incorporating Europe?s longest mountain bike descent. Nearer home, CARE will also be running the CARE London to Paris Bike Ride, which is also open to individuals. Ms Ida added that events such as this one lend themselves perfectly to joining a Sole Mates forum, as they add that extra level of reassurance and a confidence boost to participants.

On a personal level, all CARE Challenge events participants are supported every step of the way with their preparations, with on-hand training and fundraising support from the CARE Challenge Team. An additional new incentive for any 2008 participants who register before the end of November are a coveted early start time ? as Event Manager, Neil Munro explains:  ?These are demanding events, and proper training and preparation is essential. On events such as the classic CARE 3 Peaks Challenge, teams are naturally keen to set off early on leg one ? Ben Nevis ? while they are feeling fresh and energetic ? as it means the chances of finishing this first climb in daylight hours, along with maximizing rest time between climbs, are that much greater. Also, although we don?t actively promote the physical element of our events as a competition, psychologically I think colleagues from the same company generally want to start first, especially where they have more than one team from taking part. That can set the tone for the whole challenge!?

In 2007, a total of 182 teams across 12 events raised over ?1m for CARE, and it is anticipated that CARE Challenge will well exceed that figure in 2008. Readers can find out more about the 2008 CARE Challenge portfolio and join the Sole Mates community by visiting www.carechallenge.org.uk.

For more information please contact:
Helen Stoddart, CARE Challenge PR & Communications Executive

Notes to editors
About CARE
1. CARE is one of the world?s largest aid agencies, working in 70 countries to fight poverty and helping more than 48 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. CARE is working to put an end to the causes of hunger and poverty that keep 120 million people in sub-Saharan Africa permanently living on the edge of emergency. CARE is part of the Sahel Working Group (SWG), an inter-agency network focusing on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.  It was formed to identify and implement solutions to the chronic vulnerability and hunger of communities, as highlighted by the 2005 food crisis.  The SWG shares information, commissions research and coordinates programming and advocacy messages.  Participating agencies that have jointly commissioned the report, Beyond Any Drought, are: Action Against Hunger, British Red Cross, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam, Relief International, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision. Visit www.careinternational.org.uk for more information.

2. The Challenge Team at CARE have been running mountain-based Challenge events for thirteen years.  Companies that took part in CARE Challenge?s 2007 events include: PwC, Deloitte & Touche, Sir Robert McAlpine, Taylor Woodrow, Barclaycard, Hugo Boss, Marks & Spencer, Legal & General. For details of our 2008 events please visit www.carechallenge.org.uk.

3. 2008 CARE Challenge event dates are as follows:
29 March - CARE Adventure Race
April (date tbc) - BP Adventure Challenge  - for BP employees
10-11 May ? CARE 3 Peaks Ireland Challenge
7-8 June ? CARE 3 Peaks Challenge supported by Computer Weekly ? for the IT sector
21 June - Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge ? for the fashion and retail sector
28-29 June ? CARE 24 Peaks Challenge supported by Lexicon Partners
6 July - Starbucks Adventure Challenge ? for Starbucks Partners
12-13 July ? Kaplan 3 Peaks Challenge ? for the finance, accountancy and law sectors
17-19 July ? CARE London to Paris Bike Ride
6-7 September ? CARE 3 Peaks Challenge supported by Square Mile Magazine ? for City executives
11-14 September - CARE 3 Peaks Spain Challenge

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CARE International UK Reg. Charity No. 292506. CARE International UK, 10-13 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0RB. Registered company limited by gurantee (England & Wales): 1911651. Website by Joomkit.

CARE challenge are an in-house charity fundraising team. We offer many exciting charity events that you can join. All our charity challenges offer amazing adventures outdoors and lots of our activities take place over adventure weekends. If charity runs are your thing, then we have lots to offer - 10K runs, half marathons and many other running events. Or, how about cycling events for charity? We certainly have lots to offer in the charity cycling department. There are charity rides where you can cycle London to Brighton or you can even do a charity bike ride from London to Paris, if London to Brighton isn't far enough! We also have some charity walks and hikes. Later this year we have a sponsored walk that is 25 miles long in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CARE International's UK office. If activities outdoors and adventure weekends get your adrenalin pumping, then why not sign up for one of our mountain challenges? We have numerous charity challenges on mountains over the year from three peaks challenges to 24 peaks challenges - if you think you're up to it! For many of our charity fundraising events you can register as a teamleader or part of a team. We believe our charity challenges offer great teambuilding activities and are really great for team events. So if you're interested in corporate team building through a great charity challenge then the CARE Challenge Series is for you. Click here to see all our charity challenges.