Recherche

Steve Green, a materials manager at Thales's naval business site in Somerset, had qualified for the elite ‘Foster Grant Ironman 70.3' championships, which was held in Florida on 8 November.

He is aiming to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. The race involved a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, followed by a 13.1-mile run.

Competitors take part in a series of categories and Steve had qualified for the 45-to-49-year-old age group. He finished 78th out of over 100 competitors in his category.

Speaking from the Clearwater-based event, Steve says: "It was a phenomenal event. If everything had gone to plan, I was hoping for a time of 5 hours, but I actually qualified in 4 hours, 53 minutes, which is just fantastic.

`It was an unbelievable experience to be taking part in a world championships, but the weather and whole experience was superb. I had a few technical difficulties with my bike computer and at one point, my race nearly ended when a spectator stepped out in front of my bike, but I managed to swerve past!`

`It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I just want to raise as much money as possible now to complete the fundraising and then the effort will have been worth it.`

A website (www.justgiving.com/greener) is available where people can donate to Steve's challenge.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of Thales UK's corporate charities. The charity provides Marie Curie Nurses who care for terminally ill people in their own homes, surrounded by the people they love the most.

Following Thales UK's success last year in raising £100,000, Thales has set itself an even more ambitious target of raising £130,000 for this worthy cause, and staff in each of the 50-plus offices will all run different events in order to contribute.

Every £20 raised will help Marie Curie Cancer Care fund one hour of nursing care in the home, allowing patients to be with their families during their last days.

`Marie Curie Cancer Care is an outstanding charity and we're proud to be supporting them. Their dedication to and care of terminally ill patients is second to none,` says John Howe, Vice Chairman of Thales UK.

- Ends -

About Thales and Thales UK
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales' leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues in excess of £8.3 bn.

Thales UK employs 9,000 staff based at more than 50 locations. In 2007 Thales UK's revenues were over £1.2 bn.

Press contact:
Thales UK
Kathryn Bell
Mob: +44 7813 903274
Email: kathryn.bell@thalesgroup.com

Thales UK, Naval
Adrian Rondel
Mob: +44 7971 414052
Email: adrian.rondel@uk.thalesgroup.com

www.thalesgroup.com/uk