25 Jan 2008

GB Rowers Help To Row Around The World

GB Rowing Team to row 10,460km to help raise money for The Stroke Association

As part of the Siemens Stroke for Stroke Week, the GB rowing team are rowing a quarter of the way round the globe in just one week, to raise vital funds for The Stroke Association.

Siemens Stroke for Stroke Week (3rd-9th December 2007) is open to everyone across the UK and aims to raise vital funds for The Stroke Association who are working to help increase awareness of the importance of regular exercise in stroke prevention.

Athletes from the men’s, women’s and adaptive GB rowing squad are covering 10,460km in total, both on water and in the gym, which will contribute to the collective campaign target encouraging the British public to row around the world (40,076km).

Supporters can visit www.justgiving/gbrowingteam to make a donation to the GB rowing team challenge. Anyone with access to a rowing machine can still participate by signing up on www.siemens.co.uk/stokeforstroke

Tom White, chief executive, Siemens plc said: “Stroke is often associated with older people, however it can affect anyone at any age. 25% of strokes occur in people under 65 and the impact of a busy, stressful working lifestyle can increase the risk of suffering a stroke. We wanted to highlight this important issue and help to raise vital funds for The Stroke Association. I’d encourage everyone to sign up to Stroke for Stroke Week and row 10km!”

Rowing has been identified as an ideal form of exercise for busy, stressed executives, providing an effective cardiovascular workout, without putting stress on the joints. Stroke for Stroke Week will give participants the chance to discover the benefits of regular exercise by completing a sponsored 10km row over the course of the week.

Siemens is organising a range of activities across the country to encourage individuals and businesses across the country to sign up and pledge to row their 10km of the challenging campaign route around the world. Updates on this activity will be posted on the campaign website: http://www.siemens.co.uk/strokeforstroke

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Notes to editors:

About Siemens in the UK

iemens was established in the United Kingdom 164 years ago. The company employs 20,314 people in the UK, including about 6,500 in the manufacturing sector. Last year’s revenues were £3.5 billion, including exports of £580 million, and it spent almost £75 million on research and development. As a leading global engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, including the shortage of natural resources, increasing environmental care, and a growing demand for healthcare, mobility and security. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk

About The Stroke Association:

The Stroke Association is the only UK charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. The charity funds research into prevention, treatment, better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services which include communications support, family and carer support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. The Stroke Association also campaigns, educates and informs to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society acting as a voice for everyone affected by stroke. The Stroke Association Helpline provides information on stroke to the general public and is open between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 0845 3033 100 and more information on The Stroke Association can be found at www.stroke.org.uk

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Mr. Lindsey Evans or Arron Duddin
Threepipe

For more information, contact:

Tel: +44 (0) 207 632 4800

Ms. Anne Keogh
Siemens plc

Tel: +44 (0) 1276 696312

Tel: +44(0)7808 823545


About Siemens