Capgemini Sailing Challenge exceeds fundraising targets for Crimestoppers
Howard Lake | 30 October 2008 | News
£185,432 raised in largest ever donation to the charity
On 27th September, representatives from 20 police services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland swapped their uniforms for life jackets to sail around the Isle of Wight in support of the Capgemini Sailing Challenge, raising money for Crimestoppers.
The challenge occurred over a course of 60 nautical miles and set sail from the Isle of Wight. With all costs covered by Capgemini, the consulting, technology and outsourcing firm, each boat was competing not only for the finish line but also to raise funds for Crimestoppers. Teams were encouraged to raise as much money as possible for Crimestoppers through sponsorship of their crew to reach the ambitious target of £100,000.
The target was achieved easily: to date monies collected stand at a £185,432 – with sponsorship still coming in. This is the largest single donation ever made to Crimestoppers.
Helen Turnbull, Business Development Director, Capgemini comments, “We are overwhelmed by the level of support shown to the challenge and are delighted to have raised this money for the charity. It also provided an excellent opportunity for us to develop closer relationships in the police sector and demonstrates that Capgemini takes its social responsibilities seriously”.
Michael Laurie CBE, Chief Executive of Crimestoppers, praised the efforts of the team behind the challenge: “The sailing challenge brought together our partners, the police and business. I am very grateful to all of them: to Capgemini for sponsoring this imaginative challenge and to the police forces who took part, raising a considerable deal of money to help us with our work.”
The event, organised to celebrate Crimestoppers’ twentieth year, complements the long term support and programme of activity that Capgemini have in place with the charity.
The money raised will go towards national initiatives such as the creation of a toolkit for Neighbourhood Policing Teams and further development of the successful Crimestoppers youth website which is doing so much to help to combat the gun and knife culture affecting parts of the country at the moment. It also has an e-mail facility, enabling young people to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
It is still possible to sponsor the challenge. Those wishing to support their local team should, should contact the Capgemini Sailing Challenge team on 0870 195 1522 / 0870 195 1273, email Sa***************@ca*******.com or visit the fundraising website at
www.uk.capgemini.com/sailing
END
About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working – the Collaborative Business Experience – and through a global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to offer the right resources in the right location at competitive cost. Present in 36 countries, Capgemini reported 2007 global revenues of EUR 8.7 billion and employs over 83,000 people worldwide.
More information is available at
www.capgemini.com.
About Crimestoppers
Crimestoppers is an independent charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking criminals off the streets. Around 17 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every five days is charged with murder.
Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received a million actionable calls, resulting in over 86,000 arrests and charges. Over £101 million worth of property has been recovered and over £150 million worth of drugs.
Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.