Phil Gibbs, Head of Marketing at land-based and online gaming operator Praesepe, has been stocking-up with plentiful supplies of factor 50 sun protection as he prepares to walk 100 km across the world’s hottest desert. Gibbs, whose trek across the Sahara, has already raised close to £3,000 for The Responsible Gambling Trust with sponsorship pledges still coming in, is one of 24 people from the gambling sector heading to North Africa on March 22nd. The aim is to collectively generate £50,000 in aid of the charity which encourages responsible gambling and helps treat the small percentage of people who develop problems associated with gambling.
Previewing his ‘trek’, Gibbs said: “This is most definitely the biggest physical challenge I have ever undertaken or likely to undertake! I have got my colleague Praesepe Area Manager Mark Wilson to blame, who, after climbing Kilimanjaro with the Responsible Gambling Trust last year challenged me to continue Praesepe’s support by tackling the Sahara. Of course, I had no option but to accept and here I am just a week away from packing my bags ready to cross the largest desert in Africa!
“Praesepe has a strong social responsibility culture and a magnificent track record of fund raising throughout all of our AGCs, Bingo Clubs and FECs for a variety of causes most notably CHIPs. We are also a big supporter of the work undertaken by the Responsible Gambling Trust and I hope that as many of my colleagues in the industry as possible will be able to support my fund raising at www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/philsbigtrek. “