PHUKET, 22 March, 2010 Accor employees hit the ground running today in 36 degree heat, on the challenging first day of the ‘Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010’. They attacked the course with the same verve and passion used to help raise money for Yim Kids Thailand – a foundation established by Accor to help provide for underprivileged children in Thailand.

The event kicked off early from Phuket’s popular Patong Beach with a 6.5 kilometre run, followed by a 1.25 kilometre swim in clear turquoise waters of Patong Bay. All racers were given a brief respite for lunch – then it was back on their bikes for a demanding 25 kilometre hilly ride through the island rubber plantations, to picturesque Nai Harn Beach on the southern tip of Phuket.

That left them soaked in sweat and tired from a tough first day, but grinning from ear to ear (one day done, three more to go!), leaving everyone more motivated that ever to successfully complete the event for this very worthy cause.

Ms Krystal Lobianco of the Anzac Angels Team (hailing from Grand Mercure Swanston Hotel in Melbourne), said: “I am delighted to finally put to use all the hours of training and preparation for event and gave it all for the first day”.

“I was lucky to have trained during summer, as the conditions on the track today were super hot. Every time I was tired today, I thought about the children who will benefit from our fundraising efforts to pull myself together,” she added.

The challenge did not stop at the end of the bike ride, as tents had to be pitched on an island in the middle of Nai Harn Lake, where the 92 participants from 13 countries will spend the first night.

Accor’s Director of Operations – Thailand, Paul Stevens, said: “It was impressive to see all the racers out giving their all in very demanding conditions -especially those uses to cooler climates.”

The Race to Survive Phuket 2010 has attracted the support of leading corporate sponsors from Thailand, including the King Power Group of Companies.

Chulchit Bunyaketu, Group Deputy Chairman of King Power, a Yim Kids Race to Survive Gold Sponsor said : “Poverty is a serious concern in Thailand and many people and especially children do not receive the assistance that they need for a quality education and access to public health. The King Power Group is delighted to support Yim Kids and the ‘Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010’ as a sustainable project to help some of Thailand’s most needy children.”

Companies or individuals who would like to contribute to either the ‘Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010’or the Yim Kids Foundation can do so by logging on to www.yimkids.com

Note to editors:

A subsequent update on the event will be provided on Wednesday March 24 and a event round up on Friday March 26. Many images are available of the event on request.

Contacts;

Evan Lewis, Accor Asia Pacific,
evan.LEWIS@accor.com, (65) 6408-8840, (65) 9853-2441

Vasu Thirasak, Accor (Thailand),
vasu.THIRASAK@accor.com, (66) 2659-4620, (66) 2264-5747

Tom Racette – Embedded Correspondent – Accor Yim Kids Race to Survive Phuket 2010 – Hoteltravel.com
tom.r@hoteltravel.com