Masternaut track cyclists across Europe in support of pancreatic cancer

Leeds, UK, 07 July 2008 – Masternaut Three X is tracking cyclists across Europe by satellite in support of Bike to the Future's 'Ride Around the World', an important charity ride to raise money for research into pancreatic cancer. Using their unique mobile resource management technology Masternaut will be tracking the progress of the Bike to Future team as they attempt to cycle from London to Krakow, a distance of 1,500 km or 950 miles in just 2 weeks. This information will be served in real time on the event website (www.biketothefuture.org.uk) so supporters can simply log on and check the team's progress.

Bike to the Future 'Ride Around the World' is a series of linked events that are taking place across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world this summer. Led by pancreatic cancer survivor Les Niewiara the central event is a bike ride starting on the 24th July from Hammersmith Hospital in London, Les's treatment centre, and finishing on the 7th August at the Cloth Hall in Krakow, Poland, close to Les's father's birthplace. Although being undertaken by a core team of cyclists and their backup crew supporters are encouraged to join in with this and other events with the aim of completing the mammoth feat of cycling around the world – 40,000 km or 25,000 miles.

“Most people have never even heard of pancreatic cancer,” commented Les Niewiara. “Survivor rates are low, less than 3%, and perhaps this is why it is not higher up the political, medical and charity agendas – there are simply not enough voices to get our message heard. Bike to the Future is the vehicle I have chosen to raise the volume and get as many voices as possible coming together to bring about change.”

“The support of organisations such as Masternaut Three X, on top of the ongoing support of family, friends and colleagues, is critical for the success of this campaign” continued Les. “By tracking our progress, in real time, and displaying the information on the event website for everyone to follow we can really engage with our supporters. This is a really innovative use of the technology and shows truly original thinking by Masternaut.”

Masternaut Three X is the leading telematics supplier offering mobile software applications and a unique over the Internet vehicle tracking and activity reporting service to more than 100,000 subscribers across the UK and Ireland. Using satellite positioning technology combined with high speed communications Masternaut will track the progress of the cyclists in real time displaying the information on the event website.

The Bike to Future team are also being supported by Les's employer Kone, one of the world's leading elevator and escalator companies who are currently trialling the Masternaut system in the UK, and GE who will be providing the support vehicle.