‘Aggreko POWERkart Challenge’ raises AED 153,000 (USD 41,000) for UAE Charities
• Three UAE based NGO’s; Senses in Dubai, Manzil in Sharjah and ILA-run Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi each receive AED 51,000 from Aggreko.
• 73,000 AED was raised through pledges from Aggreko, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Cummins, Van Oord, and Inchcape Shipping.
• An additional 80,000 AED was raised through an auction of sport memorabilia held at an Aggreko celebratory dinner on the 30th November.
Aggreko plc, global leader in providing temporary power generation and temperature control services, has successfully raised AED 73,000 for special needs children through the recently concluded Aggreko 2005 POWERkart for Charity Challenge.
Beginning in January this year, a seven-member team led by Aggreko representatives, James Shepherd and Chris Wishart, participated in the 2005 Rotax Max UAE Championship in an effort to raise approximately AED 100,000 for children in the UAE with special needs.
Through pledges from corporate sponsors, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Cummins, Van Oord, and Inchcape Shipping, AED 73,000 was raised over the 10 rounds of the championship, with Chris Wishart successfully securing the championship title, winning 8 out of the 10 rounds.
The donation from corporate sponsors will be combined with an additional AED 80,000 raised during an auction of sports memorabilia recently conducted, taking the total amount raised to AED 153,000. Three UAE based NGO’s will receive the funds, equally divided between, Senses based in Dubai, Manzil in Sharjah, and the Indian Ladies Association-run Special Care Centre (SCC) in Abu Dhabi.
Winner of the Rotax Max Championship, Chris Wishart from Aggreko, who presented a cheque of AED 51,000 to each of the institutions, expressed the company’s pleasure in being able to support the further development of children with special needs. “The POWERkart for Charity Challenge has had a tremendous impact on all who have been involved in it, especially after having met some of the children who will benefit from it.
“Aggreko is delighted to have been able to make a positive contribution to their continued development and we plan to continue our involvement with special needs children with new initiatives that will be unveiled in 2006,” he said, also thanking companies for their pledges and the team of drivers that took on the challenge to raise the maximum amount for the children.
In addition to Wishart and Shepherd the team included Phil Burns, Phil Ritson, Scott Craig, and Steve Jephcott.
Ayesha Saeed Husaini, Director of the Sharjah-based Manzil, whose students also visited the Emirates Karting Centre in May to cheer on the Aggreko team, highlighted the importance of corporate support of community initiatives. “Being a non-profit organisation, corporate support through initiatives like the ‘Aggreko POWERkart Challenge’ is a tremendous boost for us,” she said.
Parvati Ramasheshan, Board Member of SCC in Abu Dhabi, added that, The Special Care Centre is fortunate and grateful to Aggreko for their generous donation. “Needless to say, the contribution will go a long way to improving the facilities at the institution, which was founded in 1989. We urgently need to spread awareness and we hope that more people will come forward to support this worthy cause.”
