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Up, up & away! BAE Systems and Sue Ryder Care celebrate new partnership

23 May 2008

NEWS RELEASE

UP, UP & AWAY! BAE SYSTEMS AND SUE RYDER CARE CELEBRATE NEW PARTNERSHIP

Sue Ryder Care and BAE Systems marked the launch of their new partnership with the release of hundreds balloons from the charity’s shops across the country.

BAE Systems’ 34,000 staff selected Sue Ryder Care as its UK Charity Challenge partner for the next 18 months, following a nationwide vote.

Staff and volunteers from both organisations have set free  the balloons today, in the first of a series of imaginative fundraising ventures. The balloon which travels the farthest will secure the prize of a ride in a hot air balloon.

As part of the partnership, Sue Ryder Care is challenging BAE Systems’ employees to ‘travel’ the 25,000 mile circumference of the globe in 80 days, in a series of fundraising events. Each site will complete their leg of the journey by raising funds in a series of events.

In line with Sue Ryder Care’s emergence as a leading volunteering charity, particularly for team and corporate challenges, BAE Systems’ employees will also undertake numerous volunteering roles. Staff at the international defence and technology organisation will be able to choose from more than 300 roles - the most diverse range of opportunities offered by any charity. Staff will be able to take on all manner of activities, ranging from a gardening project at a care centre to developing IT, which will suit their skills and interests, as well as provide a welcome boost to the charity.  

Dick Olver, Chairman of BAE Systems, said: “We are pleased to welcome Sue Ryder Care as our new UK Charity Challenge partner.  The partnership reinforces our commitment to giving money, time and equipment to the communities in which we work.  Since we began our Charity Challenge employees fundraising scheme in 1989 BAE Systems’ employees have raised over £41 million.”

Eric Grounds, Director of Fundraising at Sue Ryder Care, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce our partnership with BAE Systems. The Charity Challenge will generate significant funds for Sue Ryder Care, helping us to meet our plans to increase the hours of care we provide from 4million to 10million annually by 2018. I hope BAE Systems staff will embrace the challenge. Their skills and experience will be put to great use through the innumerable volunteering opportunities the partnership will present - and I hope they enjoy it too.”

To find out more information about Sue Ryder Care visit www.suerydercare.org or BAE Systems visit www.baesystems.com.

Ends

For further information please contact Vivienne Francis, Head of PR, Sue Ryder Care Central Office, 2nd Floor, 114 – 118 Southampton Row, London WC1B 5AA on 07900 160342 or email Vivienne.francis@suerydercare.org

Notes to Editor:
• BAE Systems is the largest defence and technology company in Europe employing more than 34,000 people in the UK and 97,500 people worldwide. In the UK the company has around 50 sites.
 
• BAE Systems has a proud heritage - companies that merged together to become what is now BAE Systems include Supermarine who produced the Spitfire aircraft, Vickers and English Electric. 

• Charity Challenge has raised more than £41m for national and local charities since its inception in 1989.  The scheme operates across more than 100 of BAE Systems’ wholly-owned and joint-ventured facilities, including those in Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Sweden.  BAE Systems matches funds raised for partner charities, including giving £50 for every day “spent” by employees volunteering their own time. 

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