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BT executives sleep rough
Monday October 06th 2008. Posted: 16:05
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JP Rangaswami - who was featured in a poster for the event - was one of a group of BT executives who took part in Byte Night
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BT senior executives have once again been sleeping rough - to raise money for Byte Night, the IT industry’s annual fundraiser for UK children’s charity Action for Children, formerly NCH.
For the second year running, a team from BT took part in the annual “sleep out” on Friday night (3 October), joining hundreds of others at Potters Field in London, near Tower Bridge and the buildings of Byte Night sponsors Ernst & Young. For the first time this year, IT executives were also sleeping rough in Reading, Birmingham and Manchester. Organisers hope the event - which has grown from humble beginnings ten years ago - will have raised more than £500,000 to increase awareness of youth homelessness and to support young people who are currently homeless or facing life after care. As well as a team from BT Design - led by managing director of innovation and strategy JP Rangaswami and including IT directors Jason Cook and Robin Howard, programme director Alister Hodge and technology consultant Andy Mitchell - BT Global Services managing director of global partners Chris Ainslie took part for the first time. Chris said: “Unlike a few hundred committed IT executives, some young people don't have a choice about sleeping rough - they are forced to by abuse or broken homes. And that is what Byte Night is all about - helping homeless children. “Just sleeping one night was uncomfortable, the ground being hard and cold, but at least it didn't rain - we had it easy. Doing it with no hope of an end would be soul destroying.” Jason said: “None of us got much sleep - but we all knew why we were there and were delighted to be part of something that will really make a difference to young people at their most vulnerable.” The BT Design team members - with a little help from their friends at BT Global Services - are planning a lunchtime busk outside BT Centre in London at 1pm on Thursday (9 October) to boost their fundraising. BT people aim to raise more than £16,000 for Byte Night. Employees can still support Chris and the BT Design team online.
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Last updated:
12:55