10
March
2016
|
10:00
Europe/London

Ugo Monye joins BT staff in taking on BT MyDonate nine hour challenge for sporting good causes

Summary

Former England rugby international Ugo Monye is to undertake a gruelling nine hour mountain biking and hiking challenge in the Lake District to raise money for The Supporters Club,

 

Former England rugby international Ugo Monye is to undertake a gruelling nine hour mountain biking and hiking challenge in the Lake District to raise money for The Supporters Club, BT Sport’s charitable initiative. Monye joins a number of BT staff taking on the challenge such as head of BT Sport Simon Green and director of go-to-market and channel Sam Calvert, who heads up BT’s not-for-profit, online fundraising service, MyDonate,who collectively with other BT and non-BT participants hope to raise tens of thousands of pounds for good causes.

The Nine Hour Challenge, supported by BT MyDonate, involves a combination of mountain biking and hiking through the stunning trails and peaks of the Lake District within nine hours on 23 April. Other participants are raising money, via BT MyDonate, for charities including Action Medical Research, BBC Children in Need and Missing People.

The ex-England and Harlequins star will be undertaking the most challenging route where he will bike 38km with 1,000 metres of ascent in the morning, followed by an afternoon hike of 12km with 800 metres of ascent. Ugo’s challenge will also feature on BT Sport’s weekly rugby show Rugby Tonight in the Spring.

Monye said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in the BT MyDonate Nine Hour Challenge and raising money for such a good cause, The Supporters Club. It’s going to take a lot of mental as well as physical strength to get through it. I am sure it will be a really tough experience but I will have some great people alongside me to help push me to the end and I can’t wait to start.”

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “BT Sport viewers, through their membership of The Supporters Club, have raised millions of pounds for sporting good causes around the UK and overseas so I am delighted to be able to join in. It is going to be a tough nine hours but I am really looking forward to taking part.”

Sam Calvert, director of go-to-market and channel at BT, said: “The BT MyDonate Nine Hour Challenge is hugely important to us and the variety of routes allows people of all abilities to take part and raise money for their chosen charity. MyDonate doesn’t take commission on donations so we’re able to make an even bigger difference to these fantastic charities.I’m really looking forward to the challenge and know the team wish Ugo all the best.”

ENDS

About BT MyDonate

 

MyDonate is a not-for-profit, online fundraising service for UK charities. BT MyDonate does not charge any commission fee, subscription fee or registration fee. The only charge made against your donation is the credit/debit card charge from the bank. (1.3% of donation on credit cards and 15p for each debit card transaction).

The service provides a secure, easy-to-use way for millions of people to raise money for the charity of their choice. BT MyDonate does not earn any interest on the money donated to a charity. Charities receive the money that has been donated weekly.

BT invests at least one per cent of its corporate pre-tax profits in the community and environment every year. At the end of March 2015, BT’s investment in society amounted to just over £32.5m over the previous 12 months - a combination of direct funding and in-kind support. This equates to 1.15% of our pre-tax profits.

About The Supporters Club

The Supporters Club aims to build a better world by bringing people together through sport. Donations from BT and our customers are invested into projects selected in partnership with Comic Relief. When customers sign up to BT Sport, they are able to make a recurring £1, £3 or £5 monthly subscription to The Supporters Club to help support these and other similar projects.