ESC KILIMANJARO TEAM SET TO SMASH FUNDRAISING TARGET

Friday 30th September 2005/... There are now just four days to go before the Kilimanjaro 2005 team set off for this year's fundraising challenge and the 22 climbers now look set to shatter last year's total raised of £120,000.

Expedition organiser, Andy Payne, ELSPA chairman and MD of the Mastertronic Group said: "We have another very enthusiastic crowd this year and we hope to raise well in excess of last year's total, but we should do as there are more climbers!. Seriously though, we are on course to hit our target of £150,0000, but every penny counts."

The team from the computer and video games industry will leave Heathrow for Africa on the evening of Tuesday 4th October to start the ten day expedition that will see them facing temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees and the distinct possibility of altitude sickness as they rise to the summit at just under 20,000 feet.

Anyone still wishing to sponsor a team member can do so online by visiting the web site www.justgiving.com and searching for a team member by name. Whilst two thirds of all money raised will go to the ESC the remaining third will be donated to the Kilimanjaro Village Education Project (www.KVEP.org.uk) which aims to provide teaching assistance for and improve the physical state of primary schools in the Marangu area of Tanzania.

The 2005 team are, in alphabetical order;

Nick Alexander

Charlie Barrett

Simon Callaghan

Lynn Daniel

Chloe Giusti

Geoff Heath

Tina Hicks

Kathryn Humphrey

Simon Jeffrey

Craig Johnson

Frank Kelleher

Ray Maguire

Simon Moore

Lisa Morgan

David Noble

Andy Payne

Kirsty Payne

Jenny Richards

Sarah Seaby

Caroline Searle

Graeme Struthers

Kelly Sumner

ESC CEO, Mark Strachan said, "It is great to see so many people stepping up for this year's climb. I would urge everyone to get behind the team and show their support for what will undoubtedly be one of the hardest personal challenges they have ever faced."

The event is being organised in association with Guerba Travel, acknowledged leaders in African overland travel for over 23 years. (www.Guerba.co.uk)

This is one of a number of new initiatives from the ESC which raises money each year for youth charities in the UK. Covering education, health and personal development the charity is dedicated to helping young people achieve a brighter future.

About the ESC:

Founded in 2000, the entertainment software charity was created to use the popularity of gaming to help give back to those less fortunate. The not-for-profit charity was established by prominent members of the gaming community to create a dedicated initiative programme to advance young people through play, training and education.

The entertainment software charity works with hardware vendors, developers, software publishers, magazine publishers, retailers, distributors and logistics providers, all of whom give their time, input, resources and intellectual properties to help support charities committed to improving the future of young people.

For further information on the ESC please contact:

KATHRYN HUMPHREY

BARRINGTON HARVEY

Tel: 01462 456780

Fax: 01462 456781

Email: Kathryn@bhpr.co.uk

MARK STRACHAN

ESC

Tel: 01935 389039

Email: mark@strachans.org

ANDY PAYNE

MASTERTRONIC

Tel: 0845 234 2444

Email: andy.payne@mastertronic.com

Issued by: Barrington Harvey, Troopers Yard, Bancroft, Hitchin SG5 1JW