9th March 2009

 

SURE MAKES COMIC RELIEF TEXT NUMBERS AVAILABLE

Sure has linked up with Comic Relief to ensure that its mobile customers are able to donate money on Red Nose Day via text message.
This year’s event, which takes place on Friday 13th March, hopes to raise millions of pounds for people in need in the UK and Africa.
Listeners to Radio One have been urged to support celebrities such as Chris Moyles and Cheryl Cole, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for the charity, by texting ‘climb’ to the premium rate text number 88808,  By doing so, they would automatically donate £1 to this year’s fundraising. 
However Paul Taylor, Marketing Director for Sure, explained that until now local mobile users have been unable to use this facility. 
“The fact that we’re not part of the UK means that premium text numbers are not automatically available to islanders.  However we will add these if there is sufficient demand from the public, and in this case we feel it’s important that we give our customers the facility,” he said.
“Sure recognises just how important the Red Nose Day Appeal is and that the generous people in Guernsey will want to get involved.  We therefore got together with Comic Relief to make text donations possible.”
Mr Taylor said that Sure would be among the companies across the island organising fund-raising events for Red Nose Day which this year has the theme Do Something Funny for Money.
“We know that lots of people will be having fun on the day but of course there is a serious side.  It’s important to be able to raise as much money as possible and I’m sure lots of people will want to contribute personally. Sure will pass on 100% of text donations so that Guernsey can be proud to know it is making a difference to thousands of lives both in the UK and in Africa,“ he said. 
Two text numbers are available to Sure customers. The word YES can be sent to the main Red Nose Day number of 66609 and makes a donation of £5 or the word CLIMB can be sent to 88808 which makes a £1 donation to the Red Nose Day appeal which focuses on a team of celebrities climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Islanders can also phone the appeal on Friday night on 03457 910910.
Sure pay-as-you-go customers need to ensure that they have sufficient credit before sending a text otherwise their donation will not go through.  Customers on contract will have the amount added to their bill.
All customers will be charged the standard text rate and will receive a message back from Comic Relief to thank them for their donation.
“We must stress that unless they receive this acknowledgement, they haven’t made a donation,“ said Mr Taylor. 
All the money raised will be collected locally by Sure and the full amount sent on to Comic Relief once the text lines close at 23.59 on 31st March 2009.
  • A full list of all the premium text numbers available to Sure customers can be found at http://www.surecw.com/
  • You can send a text message until 23.59 on 31st March 2009.
  • Please ensure you send the word YES to 66609 to make a £5 donation or the word CLIMB to 88808 to make a £1 donation .
  • If your keyword and short code are valid, and your text message is received before 23.59 on 31st March 2009, you will be charged your donation via a bounce-back message. It may take some time for you to receive the bounce-back message. Please wait until you receive it.
  • If your keyword or short code are invalid, or your text message is received outside the specified times and dates, you may not receive a bounce back but may still be charged your standard network message charge. You will not be charged for your donation as you will not be donating to Comic Relief.
  • All supporters must obtain permission from the bill payer before sending a text message. Supports under 16 years old must have a parent or guardian's permission to send a text donation.
  • If you would like to contribute more cash to Comic Relief, you can donate online through the following website: www.rednoseday.com/donate