Press release
Hanoi, 27 April 2015
Team Britain for Newborns Takes The VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam Challenge
VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, Da Nang City May 2015
Team Britain for Newborns is taking the VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam challenge with Vietnam’s first officially branded IRONMAN triathlon in Da Nang City. The challenge involves a 1.9 km swim, 90 km cycle ride and a 21 km run. The team comprises David Lloyd, Graham Knight and Frederik Farina. Together they aim to win the relay race to raise awareness and funds for Newborns Vietnam. Newborns Vietnam is a British charity based in Da Nang. It works to reduce infant mortality in Vietnam by providing specialist British training for neonatal nurses and doctors, as well as life-‐saving equipment. This will be David’s second event for Newborns Vietnam. In December 2014 he completed the country’s first bicycle ‘Everesting’ by cycling up Ba Vi mountain nine times in one day to record a total ascent of 8,848m -‐ the height of Everest. Graham Knight, who will take over as 2nd Secretary Political at the UK Embassy in Vietnam in the summer, is a successful marathon runner, while Frederik Farina is an all-‐round athlete with a high level rowing background. Frederik lives in Danang and is the Executive Chef & Director of Food & Beverage at the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa where the race will start and finish. Giles Lever, British Ambassador to Vietnam, said: “This is another great challenge by British and international endurance athletes to support Newborns Vietnam’s brilliant work, which is making a real difference to the life chances of newborn babies in Vietnam. It also highlights the incredible efforts of the British and international endurance sports community in Vietnam to raise funds for this work. I am delighted that 52 British athletes are competing at the event alongside entrants from 53 countries.”
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Note to Editors:
About Ironman Da Nang
Vietnam's Inaugural VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam event will take place on May 10, 2015 in the coastal city of Danang, well known for its pristine beaches, UNESCO world heritage sites and numerous tourist attractions. Vietnam will be the 30th country globally to host an IRONMAN event. Over 950 athletes from 53 countries will take part.
Participants will be treated to a fast and scenic course that begins with a 1.9-‐km ocean swim in front of the beautiful Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa. From there, athletes will enjoy a scenic two-‐loop 90-‐km bike course that takes them along Danang’s pristine coastline and by some of the city’s key landmarks. The final 21-‐km out-‐and-‐back run course is flat and passes by many of Danang’s famous beach resorts before finishing at the foot of the legendary Marble Mountains. About David Lloyd
David Lloyd has been in Hanoi for four years. David is a British photographer with work published in the New York Times and he has also authored and photographed guidebooks on Vietnam. In 2014, he became the first cyclist to complete an ‘Everesting’ in Vietnam and he also won the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (42km overall) in Sapa and the Laguna Lang Co triathlon (age group). Overseas he achieved podium places at the Tour of Friendship in Thailand and the Tour of Matabungkay in the Philippines. Support Team Britain for Newborns
Please support Team Britain for Newborns Ironman relay race and make a donation for one or more of our team members at https://www.justgiving.com/TeamBritainforNewborns/ Team Britain for Newborns is supporting Newborns Vietnam’s British nursing and medical education partnership in central Vietnam providing specialist training for nurses and doctors and lifesaving equipment. IM Press Release
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Newborns Vietnam Newborns Vietnam is a UK registered, volunteer based charity dedicated to improving the survival of newborn babies and their mothers in South East Asia with a specific focus on Vietnam. The charity provides bespoke neonatal nursing education programmes to support enhanced neonatal outcomes by developing the knowledge, skills and practice of neonatal nurses. Its programmes are developed in partnership with British higher education institutions and teaching hospitals, local health providers and medical training colleges.
Cycle a Difference Challenge Rides Newborns Vietnam Cycle a Difference rides are all about ordinary people doing quite extraordinary challenges to make a difference to the life chances of thousands of newborns in Vietnam. The Newborns Vietnam Cycle a Difference Challenge rides have raised over $450,000 for training for Vietnamese nurses in newborn care, at the Da Nang Hospital for Women & Children. The first nurses graduated in August and were the first in Vietnam to receive a British University certificate in neonatal nursing.
For further information on Ironman Da Nang 70.3, Newborns Vietnam and Cycle a Difference, please check the following links:
http://ironman703vietnam.com/VNG/
http://www.newbornsvietnam.org/
http://www.cycle-‐a-‐difference.com/
http://www.healthynewbornnetwork.org/partner/newborns-‐vietnam
For further information relating to Team Britain for Newborns, please contact: Suzanna Lubran, Executive Director, Newborns Vietnam Tel: Vietnam: +84 (0) 905 062 500 Email: [email protected] For further information relating to VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, Da Nang City May 2015 please contact: Garry A. Garcia, Event Director +84 946 159 086 [email protected] IM Press Release
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