# BG Group pledges continued support for Clubfoot Project - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/04/15/bg-group-pledges-continued-support-clubfoot-project/ - Published: 2009-04-15T15:30:04+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake _Aberdeen University based Sparks charity project to benefit from the BG Energy Challenge 2009 – UK_ BG Group, the global natural gas business, has confirmed that for a third successive year monies raised from its annual BG Energy Challenge – UK event will benefit the Clubfoot project, based at Aberdeen University. The project, funded by children’s medical research charity Sparks, has already received nearly £100,000 from fundraising generated by the energy industry networking event and with a record number of teams participating in this year’s event in Wales, the support will hopefully lead to continued breakthroughs in the project’s research. The project investigates possible causes of Clubfoot in Europe and the Pacific, using existing DNA and information from more than 850 families across Europe and Vanuatu – the largest study if its kind in the world. Over the past two years, BG Group has been the principal source of funding for the project through their work with Sparks and during this time researchers have made significant developments in their goal to identify the causes of Clubfoot. Current analysis into potential causes includes investigating the role of genes that break down chemicals found in tobacco smoke, pregnancy-related risk factors and identifying a gene which has been highlighted as a possible cause of Clubfoot worldwide. ## Advertisement Dr Zosia Miedzybrodzka, from Medical Genetics Laboratories, Aberdeen University, said: “We are extremely grateful that BG Group and the BG Energy Challenge – UK have once again committed their support to the vital research we do. Clubfoot is a common inborn problem of uncertain cause and with the funds received through Sparks we have been able to continue building our expertise, placing us in a unique position to make discoveries that will lead to better treatment and possible prevention. As with all Sparks projects, our aim is to improve the quality of life for thousands of children and we thank BG Group for their continued help in making this possible.” In addition to the Clubfoot project, the funds raised by participating teams will go towards another Sparks project, details of which will be announced shortly, and CARE International, the overseas relief and development charity. In 2008, total funds raised in the UK reached more than £190,000 and with this year’s field expected to be the largest yet, this amount will undoubtedly be surpassed. The BG Energy Challenge UK will take place from 9-11 July 2009 in Bangor, Wales. Over 250 participants from companies associated with the energy industry will face three days of physical, mental and strategic challenges having already raised at least £5,000 per team for the selected charities. The global BG Energy Challenge series has been running since 1996 with events being held in Brazil, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Oman and Trinidad & Tobago. – Ends – For more information about the event and how you can get involved please contact: Katrina Spring / BG Group ka************@******up.com 0118 929 2944 For media information, please contact: Anna Grainger / brandRapport ag*******@***********rt.com 01483 209 841 ### Notes to editors #### BG Group BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a strategy focused on connecting competitively-priced resources to specific, high-value markets. Active in 27 countries on five continents, BG Group has a broad portfolio of exploration and production, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), transmission and distribution and power generation business interests. BG Group seeks to support social and economic development in the communities where it does business by providing structured funding for community initiatives that match its skills transfer theme. For more information, visit www.bg-group.com BG Group’s sponsorship portfolio is called Energy for life. The BG Energy Challenge series is one of the sponsorships that make up the Energy for life portfolio. For further information visit www.bg-group.com/sponsorship #### About CARE International CARE International is one of the world’s largest aid agencies working in over 70 countries around the world, tackling poverty and injustice wherever the need is greatest. Across five continents, CARE’s work has had an impact on more than 65 million people. Our long-term programmes tackle the deep-seated causes of poverty and we are always among the first to respond when disaster strikes. We remain with communities to help them rebuild their lives long after the cameras have gone. For more information about CARE, visit www.careinternational.org.uk. #### About Sparks Sparks is unique. It isn’t a single cause charity. Sparks is the only charity to fund cutting edge research across the whole spectrum of paediatric medicine. Working with doctors and scientists at leading universities and teaching hospitals across the UK, Sparks research work encompasses childhood cancers, childhood arthritis, meningitis, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, the risks associated with premature birth and many other conditions affecting babies and children in the early years of life. Sparks has already committed over £16.7 million to fund more than 196 research projects with the aim of giving more children the best of all starts in life…a healthy one. For more information about Sparks, visit www.sparks. org.uk #### About Intelligent Sport® Intelligent Sport® is the fastest growing team development concept in the world – specifically designed for business. Its primary aim is to give companies and their key people first-hand experience of the power of teamwork, drawing on strategy, intellect and physical ability to teach the skills and provide the inspiration that will make a difference to their performance. 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