22/02/2008

Businesses Challenged To Raise Funds For Meningitis UK

Businesses across Scotland are being urged to prove they are up to the challenge of raising funds for national charity Meningitis UK.

On Friday, April 4, Meningitis UK is holding a '4 Hour Challenge' and asking companies to take four hours out of their day to raise as much money as possible.

The date – the fourth day of the fourth month – marks the one year anniversary of the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign and highlights the fact that meningitis can kill in under four hours.

Laura Chapman, Meningitis UK's Corporate Partnerships Officer, said: "This is a chance for companies to get creative and come up with their own fun 4 hour idea, and show that they are the best in the business when it comes to creative and savvy fundraising. If staff are feeling really brave they could even auction their boss for four hours!

"If you haven't got 4 hours to spare you can still get involved, maybe by allowing employees to 'buy' the opportunity to leave work at 4pm in return for a donation. The opportunities are endless and it will be a really fun way to round off the financial year."

Meningitis is the biggest infectious killer of children under the age of five in the UK and has the power to kill in under four hours. The Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million over the next seven years to fund vital research into developing a vaccine to eradicate meningitis.

For more information about Meningitis UK or to register for the 4 Hour Challenge, call Laura Chapman on 0117 373 7373 or visit: www.meningitisUK.org/4hourchallenge.

(JM)




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