BG Group, the global natural gas business, has announced that the SPARKS Clubfoot project “Exploring causes of clubfoot in Europe and the Pacific” based at the University of Aberdeen will be one of two SPARKS projects to benefit from funds raised from its annual BG Energy Challenge UK event.
SPARKS, the children's medical research charity and CARE International, one of the world's largest relief and development agencies, will both benefit from the funds raised from the annual event.
The BG Energy Challenge 2007 – UK, is taking place in Stirling, Scotland from 5 to 8 July. Employees from up to 60 companies associated with the energy industry, will face three days of tough physical, mental and strategic challenges all in the aid of raising money for the children's medical research and overseas development charities.
Dr Zosia Miedzybrodzka, from Medical Genetics Laboratories, at the University of Aberdeen, said: "We are delighted to have been selected to benefit from some of the funds raised. Clubfoot is a common inborn problem of uncertain cause. With SPARKS we have been able to establish the largest DNA based study of clubfoot in the world.
"With our expertise and recent advances in genetics and epidemiology, the funds put us in a unique position to make discoveries that will lead to better treatments and possible prevention to improve the quality of life for thousands of children."
Whilst networking and challenging industry peers at the BG Energy Challenge 2007 - UK, the teams are committed to raising a minimum of £5,000 each for charity. They will have the choice of donating all of their funds to one of the charities or can choose to split them equally between the two. In 2006, total funds raised in the UK reached more than £200,000 and with this year's field expected to be the largest yet, this amount will undoubtedly be surpassed.
Martin Johnson, Vice President of SPARKS and 2003 World Cup winning England rugby captain said: "We are extremely grateful that BG Group has chosen to give their support to these two projects ensuring the continuation of this vital research.
"Our mission is for all babies to be born healthy and stay healthy and money raised from the BG Energy Challenge 2007 – UK will help us to fund vital medical research which will hopefully allow the next generation to have the same opportunities that many of us have been able to enjoy.The support of organisations like BG is particularly important to us because so much cutting edge paediatric research in the UK today depends on charities like SPARKS rather than the public purse."
Since 1996 BG Energy Challenge events have raised over £2.7 million for charities worldwide. Events have been held in Brazil, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Trinidad & Tobago, Oman and the US, while a further event is planned in India.
Those associated with the energy industry wishing to take part and help with the fundraising can register online at: www.bg-energychallenge.com