Record Field in 4x4 Challenge for Charity
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 16:50
September 28th, 2009
Record Field in 4x4 Challenge for Charity
The biggest ever field of 35 teams will take part in the 4x4 Challenge for Charity 2009, to raise money for Temple Street Children's University Hospital. The fifth year of the Ordnance Survey Ireland sponsored event takes place on October 3rd and 4th. Teams who entered last year's Challenge achieved the four-year target of raising €100,000 for Temple Street Children's Hospital, with a contribution in excess of €30,000.
Event organiser, Robert Archibald of ACT Training, said, "All the money we raise from the October 2009 event will go towards purchasing vital pieces of life saving equipment including several incubators for seriously ill newborns, a dialysis machine, a mobile X-ray machine and a ventilator. Fund raising in the current economic climate is certainly tough - but some of our teams would tell you that the 4x4 Challenge for Charity is where the tough get going!"
The 4x4 Challenge is a 48-hour driving and navigational event with off road sections and teams work from Ordnance Survey Discovery Series maps. They use a road book, devised for them by ACT Training, which runs courses in the safe operation of vehicles for staff using 4x4s or quads in the forestry, leisure, construction and agricultural industries. The teams navigate around some 800kms of countryside, finding hidden clues, answering cryptic questions and completing set tasks in a ‘treasure hunt' style challenge, exploring some of the most spectacular hidden corners of Ireland.
A celebration dinner and prize giving ceremony at the luxurious Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, gives the teams some well earned rest and recuperation. The Slieve Russell has sponsored the event since its inception. Prizes are awarded to an overall winning team, with other categories for sections such as night navigation and spirit of the event. Fund raising is as hotly contested as the other prizes, particularly during the harsh economic climate.
"The emphasis is on driving and navigational skill and respect for the environment is important to us," said ACT Training's Jonathan Crozier. "The 4x4 Challenge isn't a race but it's an adventure with a friendly crowd for a great cause. Temple Street Children's University Hospital saves the lives of many sick children and needs support to extend its work. The Hospital funds the purchase of medical equipment and research; it develops new services and treatment facilities. We support Temple Street in achieving these goals and we encourage companies and individuals to support us through their generous sponsorship of our teams."
"Without wonderful people like the 4x4 challenge team we could not do what we do at Temple Street Children's University Hospital" said Angi McNulty, Special Events Manager at TSCUH, who is taking an "active" part in this years 4x4 challenge. "I wish all participants a safe challenge and thank them in advance for their wonderful fundraising efforts past, present and future, especially Jonathan and Robert who have been a joy to work with over the last few years.
For further information contact Jonathan Crozier, Event Director, 4x4 Challenge Team on 087 6 342434
Angi McNulty - Special Events Manager TSCUH - 086 3808667
