Masternaut Three X lone ‘walkers’ raise X for Help the Aged

Leeds, UK, 28 November 2008 –Masternaut Three X adventurers have raised £2600 for Help the Aged following their 5-day walking expedition along the 6,300km-long Great Wall of China. Trek China 2008 was a gruelling journey taking in the historical sites along the Great Wall and is part of Help the Aged's ongoing campaigns to raise money to help the charity to ensure a future where older people are free from the disadvantages of poverty, isolation and neglect, so they can live with dignity and respect as valued members of society.

Alex Epstein, Head of Communications, Masternaut Three X, was a member of the Trek China 2008 team from the Leeds-based vehicle tracking, mobile worker solutions and hosted business systems innovator. He said: “We are delighted to have taken part in this worthwhile venture. As both a supplier to Help the Aged and a member of their 'Engage' corporate partnership scheme, we see tremendous value in the charity's activities. Nothing, however, could really prepare us for this kind of expedition. Training is one thing, but, until we arrived in China and saw what we were up against, we could only imagine what it would involve.”

Trek China also gave the team the opportunity to thoroughly endurance test the Masternaut Three X lone 'walker' personal safety solutions for accuracy, ruggedness and reliability. These are satellite-tracking devices that are accessed via the Internet using the unique Masternaut Three X service and mobile telephone networks to provide emergency assistance, voice communications and location reporting of lone workers. These devices ensure that lone workers are safe and can go about their work confidently knowing that managers can see precisely where they are in real time.

“The Great Wall is a magnificent structure covering all kinds of terrain, including high mountains, valleys and deserts and the walk presents many challenges. We were equipped with Masternaut lone 'walker' satellite tracking devices so that our colleagues back at HQ in the UK could follow our journey in real-time. The personal safety devices operated faultlessly reporting our activity every inch of the way. We finished the walk exhausted but thrilled by the experience.”

“Our Trek China team deserves congratulating, particularly for the amount of money raised as a contribution to Help the Aged's campaigning. Actions like these speak louder than words, and our team has shown how we can actively help older people, particularly at a time when the economy is especially harsh.

It will be interesting to follow the team's endeavours on our computer screens and it gave a valuable insight into precisely how useful our personal safety solutions provide additional security for people out and about on their daily routines. I know that following this fantastic adventure, the team will be planning its next quest,” added Martin Port, Managing Director, Masternaut Three X.

If you fancy a challenge to make 2009 a year you will not forget why not take on a trekking challenge of your own with colleagues? Help the Aged organises treks to China, Peru and even Everest Base Camp. For those with pedal power you could cycle from London to the world famous city of Paris or for the adrenaline junkies among you why not get a group together and take part in an exhilarating skydive – all while making a difference to disadvantaged older people. Please contact Sarah Greene, Help the Aged, on 020 7239 1964.