WIN plc confirmed as technology sponsor

To donate towards Help for Heroes simply text Heroes to 70100

Newbury, 22 July 2010 : Wholesale Marketing Manager James Gray will be undertaking a marathon drive 12th-14th August, from Lands End to John O'Groats in a 1968 Morris Minor to raise funds for Help the Heroes.

The trip, which will total more than 1800 miles, will start and finish in Newbury travelling the length of the country from Lands End to John O'Groats and back.

Gray and his wife Lynn who will be acting as co-driver and navigator are both determined to raise over £2000 for Help for Heroes, a charity which does a fantastic job supporting injuried servicemen.  As part of their fundraising efforts, the couple will be completing the journey in the ancient car and have decided that they wil only travel on roads that were available when the car was first built in the 60's.  They have also agreed to do the journey in 1960s clothing and will not have any support vehicles instead opting to maintain the car themselves.

The couple have already secured a number of corporate sponsors who have bought panels on the car including mobile services provider WIN plc. 

In addition to having purchased panels on the car, WIN is using their technology to enable charity donations via SMA.  WINs Gateway Solution will enable mobile subscribers, of any network provider, to text 'heroes' to 70100.  This will automatically make a donation of £5, on behalf of the user, towards the Help for Heroes fund.  WIN will pass 100% of the proceeds it receives from the mobile networks on to the charity.

WIN has also developed a mobile application, using location based services, which will allow supporters to track the couple's journey in real time.  By visiting the couple's blog, by clicking here, supporters are presented with a map showing the precise location of James and Lynn over the course of the marathon.

Vodafone, where Gray works as Wholesale Marketing Manager, have also pledged a £350 donation under their UK Foundation charity matching scheme for employees.

"We have been amazed with the level of support we have had from both individuals and organisations," says Gray "the novelty of the trip seems to have captured people's imaginations."

Notes:

If you would like to sponsor the couple you can go to http://www.justgiving.com/GrayLEJOG or simply text Heroes to 70100*

The couple have been keeping a blog featuring all the work they have done on the Morris and will update it through the journey.  You can visit the blog at http://www.lejog4heroes.blogspot.com/

*Text Giving Terms and Conditions

A standard text + £5 will be billed via your mobile phone of which £4.23-£4.70 is donated to registered charity 1120920.  Operated by WIN plc at no charge