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CARE International UK & Computer Weekly launch 2008 IT Challenge

Leading overseas development agency CARE International and IT sector journal Computer Weekly are delighted to announce the launch of an exclusive 2008 outdoor mountain teambuilding challenge, aiming to raise in excess of ?120,000 for the charity?s overseas work: the 2008 CARE 3 Peaks Challenge supported by Computer Weekly.

This tough 24-hour challenge, scheduled for the weekend of 7-8th June 2008 and run by CARE International UK?s in-house Challenge Event Team, is open exclusively to corporate teams of professionals from the IT sector. The teams, of between 5-7 walkers, will be tasked with climbing the UK?s 3 highest stand-alone mountains - Ben Nevis in Scotland (1344m), Scafell Pike in England (978m) and Snowdon in Wales (1085m) within the 24-hour target time. This includes 10 hours fixed driving time in between! Each team will also be challenged with raising at least ?6,000 for the charity in the months leading up to the event weekend.

It?s not the first time that Computer Weekly has worked in partnership with CARE, having previously supported the former Vanco 3 Peaks Challenge as official media partner for several years until 2005. Regularly participating companies in this hugely popular event included Accenture, Acucorp, Barclays, Bradford & Bingley, Cisco Systems, Debenhams, GAP, Grant Thornton, HSBC, Johnson & Johnson, National Car Rental, Reed Managed Services, Royal Bank of Scotland, Selfridges, Telewest Broadband, Woolwich.

Computer Weekly editor, Brian McKenna, said of the new partnership: ?We are proud to renew our association with CARE International, one of the world?s largest charities, in tackling poverty overseas, and are very much looking forward to working with CARE to help promote this exciting event for IT professionals. We would urge anyone working in the industry ? either as part of an IT department or IT company - to come on board and contribute to the excellent work of the charity.? 


Teams will be supported with their training and fundraising every step of the way by CARE?s Challenge Team and, for those who sign up within the next few weeks, their enthusiasm will be rewarded with the additional incentive of a coveted early start time on the event ? as Event Manager, Neil Munro explains: ?The CARE 3 Peaks Challenge is a demanding challenge, and on such a large-scale event, 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 the event as a competition, psychologically I think teams of colleagues generally want to start first, especially where there are more than one team from the same company taking part. That can set the tone for the whole challenge!?


In 2007, a total of 182 corporate teams across 12 events raised over ?1m for CARE, and it is anticipated that the contribution made by the CARE 3 Peaks Challenge supported by Computer Weekly will help smash that total in 2008.

Computer Weekly will be providing regular updates on teams and their preparations in print and online ? so watch this space over the coming weeks!
Readers who think they?ve got what it takes are invited to find out more about the 2008 CARE 3 Peaks Challenge supported by Computer Weekly by visiting www.carechallenge.org.uk/IT.

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


Notes to editors


About CARE International
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 has stepped in and is increasing its efforts to provide emergency food aid and relief supplies in areas affected by the recent devastating flooding in South East Asia, as well as providing cash for work so that people can buy food to feed their families. The work will focus on repairing the damage from the floods.

CARE is also 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, including the classic 3 Peaks Challenge, for thirteen years.  Companies that took part in CARE Challenge?s 2007 events include: PwC, Deloitte & Touche, Hugo Boss, Marks & Spencers, Legal & General, Barclaycard, Starbucks, Conchango, Baker Tilly, Npower, National Grid, Transport for London, Docklands Light Railway, Taylor Woodrow, Bovis Lend Lease, Costain, Sir Robert McAlpine.

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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.