Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Astro sponsors Worshipful Company of Information Technologists’ (WCIT) Lyke Wake Walk Team 2018
On Saturday 30 June 2018 a team of Information Technologists set out to complete the Lyke Wake Walk within a 24 hour period with a target of raising £12,000 for the WCIT Charity.
The WCIT Charity provided grants and pro bono support to improve lives through education, opportunity and accessibility. From only 800 members the WCIT raises funds through continuous charitable giving and events such as the Lyke Wake Walk to make over £200,000 of grants per year. The grants fund projects to improve life for the sick and disabled in hospital and care; enhance opportunity for young people through more effective education; help re-engage those excluded in society by homelessness and unemployment; and help charities and other not-for-profit organisations get the best out of IT.
Steve Smith, founder and CTO of Astro said. “As an active member of the WCIT I see first-hand the positive impact the WCIT Charity funds and pro bono support has on a wide range of worthy causes. I have personally been involved with many projects ranging from design and funding of a wireless network for a special educational needs school through to provision of a number of IT training suites for charities helping disadvantaged people re-engage with society.”
The WCIT Charity works directly with other charities, schools and hospices through strategic partnerships, including Lifelites and Thames Reach Homeless charity amongst others. In their 25-year history, the WCIT Charity has spun off two independent charities – Lifelites and The Charity IT Association, endowed a new school in Hammersmith and supported many other causes through almost £5 million in grants. Members of the WCIT apply their information technology, management and sometimes acquisition skills to charitable projects to ensure every pound donated goes much further.
Steve Hodges, Astro MD added. “We are delighted to be able to support such a great cause. Astro has a long history of philanthropy dating back to 1985 – not just through donations but also through volunteering for organisations such as: The Bud Flanagan Leukaemia Fund, Camp Cando, The Charity IT Association as well as the WCIT. The fact that we are able to have a positive impact on the lives of the less fortunate people of our society by supporting the delivery of appropriate and effective IT systems and pro bono support really appeals to us.”
The Lyke Wake Walk is a complete crossing of the North Yorkshire moors across the highest and widest section – a distance of approximately 40 miles. The WCIT Lyke Wake Walk team completed their challenge of 44.96 miles in 19 hours, 17 minutes and 43 seconds. They are currently around £1,500 short of their £12,000 target but the donations are still coming in.
Steve Smith concluded. “This is a great result and I know the money raised will be put to excellent use. As Secretary of the WCIT Pro bono and Projects Panel I am likely to see the funds raised progress through to a charity grant and project delivery. I am extremely grateful to my WCIT colleagues for undertaking the challenge and raising so much money for an excellent cause. Having enjoyed 45 years in the telecommunications and IT industry it is great to have the opportunity to give back, through sponsorship and pro bono support.”
– Ends –
For further information, please contact:
Astro – Steve Smith, steve.smith@astro.co.uk or Steve Hodges steve.hodges@astro.co.uk on +44 (0)203 058 7770
About Astro
Astro has been delivering technical solutions to solve business challenges for over 30 years. Founded by two former employees of BT and Cable and Wireless, Astro has gone on to deliver some of the most technically challenging and complex solutions in the market.
Providing services ranging from physical cabling and wireless LAN’s to cloud-based video conferencing and SIP services, key clients include Butlin’s, Grundon Waste Management, Motorpoint Arena, TGI Friday’s and BBC Wales.
Astro is headquartered in Hawley Manor, Dartford with staff based all over the country and partner organisations across the globe.