Adventure Specialist Reaches GBP100,000 Fundraising Milestone

LONDON, ENGLAND, March 14, 2012 (Press-News.org) More than GBP100,000 has been raised by The Adventure Company to help local community projects all over the world.

Contributions made by the small group adventure travel specialist and its customers over the last six years have helped a range of locally run grass root projects. The worldwide causes include the building of new wells in Borneo, reforestation in Peru, a Kenyan programme to stop wildlife being snared for meat and helping a homeless children's charity in India buy medical supplies.

39% of the funds were raised through GBP1 passenger donations which are matched by The Adventure Company Foundation which was set up in 2006. The remaining 61% was raised through designated contributions made by The Adventure Company across 137 of its tours.

Claire Wilson, MD of The Adventure Company, said: "One of our most recent donations has gone towards supporting orphaned children in Uganda where our GBP2,611 donation has helped the Bwindi Watoto School build four new classrooms and a further GBP1,350 will go towards furniture and installing window shutters.

"In addition to our commitment to investing as much as possible on a local level by using locally-owned agents, transport and accommodation, we believe adventure travel is about opening your eyes to new cultures and ways of life. We therefore created The Adventure Company Foundation as a way of maximising the positive effects tourism can bring to the destinations we visit. By encouraging our travellers to become involved in grass root initiatives we hope to make a genuine difference and bring long-term benefits to communities."

In February this year The Adventure Company's customers selected The Esther Benjamin's Trust to be the next project to benefit from donations. The trust works to rescue Nepalese children who have been trafficked or displaced into India and provide them with education and skills that enable them to become independent and reintegrated into society.

This year The Adventure Company Foundation hopes to raise over GBP24,000 towards local community and wildlife projects. An additional target of GBP19,000 has also been set to help offset customers' carbon emissions associated with in-country travel. These funds will go towards the work currently carried out with the non-profit organisation Blue Ventures Carbon Offset distributing solar and energy efficient stoves to communities in Madagascar.

For more information on The Adventure Company's Foundation and the related holidays visit http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk/responsible-travel or contact call 0845 287 1198.

For further information please contact:
Suzanne Seyghal, PR Manager
Tel: 020 8971 2967 Mobile: 07944 168 697
Email: suzanne.seyghal@tuiactivitypr.com

Felicity Hay, PR Assistant
Tel: 020 8971 0498
Email: felicity.hay@tuiactivitypr.com

NOTE TO EDITORS:
About The Adventure Company Foundation:
The Adventure Company Foundation was set up in August 2006 to support small, local projects in the countries visited.
Every customer is invited to donate GBP1 which is matched by The Adventure Company with 100% of the money raised going to help four in-country projects every year.
Contributions made across 137 tours help to support 18 further wildlife and community projects around the world as a set amount is donated for every passenger or per trip. Contributions vary from GBP2.20 donated to a local project for every traveller heading to Morocco to GBP50 which is donated to a reforestation programme in Laos for every Authentic Indochina departure.
From the GBP100,000 milestone, 39% was raised through the GBP1 donations and 61% through specific tour contributions.
The Adventure Company also donates GBP2 to Blue Ventures Carbon Offset for each of its passengers who are also encouraged to make an individual contribution.

About The Adventure Company
Having pioneered the family adventure concept over 15 years ago, The Adventure Company remains the UK's leading family adventure specialist with 113 dedicated family holidays.
Family itineraries are tailored to suit children of all ages, from infants to teenagers, and cater for all levels of experience, from those new to adventure to seasoned travellers. Trips vary from multi-activity holidays and exotic animal encounters to Hands On Adventures interacting with local community and environmental projects plus dedicated teen trips.
In 2011 The Adventure Company introduced the UK's first family photography and family astronomy holidays accompanied by experts.
Its range of over 250 adult and family small group adventures across all continents combine 'must-see' highlights with unforgettable cultural experiences. The collection allows holidaymakers to enjoy some of the world's most iconic treks, spot wildlife on safari, get under the skin of local cultures, camp under the stars or try out new activities such as white-water rafting and dog-sledding, From Argentina to Zambia, all trips are led by local guides who provide an invaluable cultural insight.