TNT fund-raisers hungry for success
Big hearted employees from TNT are backing a festival of fund-raising to aid malnourished youngsters in Africa and support the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP).
Staff at the country's leading business-to-business express operator are pulling out all the stops to help generate thousands of pounds to feed and educate impoverished children in Tanzania.
Equally as important is the need for TNT staff to raise awareness of the continuing struggle to conquer global hunger and prick the social conscience of others.
As well as preparing foodstuffs from around the world to add an international flavour to their fundraising fun, TNT's finest have undertaken a range of activities including: virtual bike rides spanning the length of Britain, charity pool tournaments, netball competitions, pyjama days, quizzes, mega raffles, a weight-lifting challenge, head and chest shaving, leg waxing, car washing, throwing wet sponges at the boss, swear boxes and sponsored hikes.
A taste of Africa is also on the 'menu' with employees being encouraged to eat a very basic dish of maize meal and water - the staple diet of a Tanzanian child, as funded by TNT, and costing just 7p a day.
The Fight Hunger Week initiative takes place at TNT depots, hubs and offices up and down the country as part of an ongoing partnership that has already seen TNT in the UK generate more than £300,000 for the WFP.
Stuart Stobie, Divisional Managing Director for TNT Express UK said: "It costs just £25 to feed and educate a child for a year in Tanzania. Our objective is to raise as much as possible from Fight Hunger Week and provide real hope and a brighter future for thousands of youngsters.
"We hope to get all our employees involved, have a really fun time, but at the same time raise critical funds for this absolutely vital United Nations initiative. We do take our corporate responsibilities very seriously and this is an ideal way to help those most in need."
The money raised by TNT will be channelled into the WFP's School Feeding Programme whereby children in developing countries are encouraged to attend school and receive a free nourishing meal. All the donations from TNT in the UK will go to provide much-needed nutrition and education for youngsters in Tanzania.
The partnership between TNT Express and the WFP was launched eight years ago when the company approached the UN Agency after learning the shock fact that a child dies every five seconds from hunger and hunger-related diseases.
In responding to emergencies - such as the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami - TNT can play a vital role based on its expertise in the field of logistics and transportation. TNT and the WFP share the common values of speed, reliability and efficiency and, by teaming up, TNT is committed to sharing its resources in order to make a lifesaving difference to the work of the WFP.