Silicon.com launches IT-backed charity Web site

Silicon.com has joined forces with IT Relief - the technology industry's vehicle for supporting charity - to host the official IT Relief Web site (http://www.silicon.com/itrelief ).

This year, IT Relief is backing an organisation called KIDS, a UK charity which works with parents and carers to help children with special needs or disabilities. Two years ago, IT Relief supported Comic Relief, and raised over £100,000.

The IT Relief Web site - which goes live today - will provide the latest news from the charity's frontline using Silicon.com's unique combination of video and text.

The online campaign kicks with a feature presented by actress Elizabeth Hurley, who outlines why she got involved in the charity, while Angela Woods, director of KIDS London, and Clare Williamson, IT Relief committee member and marketing manager of Logical, explain how the IT industry can do its bit to help.

IT Relief has committed to raise £150,000 by the end of the year to fund the networking of all the regional KIDS sites in a project called KIDS ONLINE. This will enable parents and children to access information about the support services available to them. KIDS also aims to install PCs with Internet access in the homes of all housebound children to give them better communication access to the outside world.

Williamson said: "For IT Relief to meet this year's objective and raise the £150,000 needed for KIDS ONLINE, we must gain more support within our industry. To achieve this we need to increase awareness, to let people know how they can help - and keep them updated on events and fundraising. With Silicon.com's support not only can we get our story across quickly and clearly, but also achieve the reach across the industry that's needed for IT Relief to be successful."

The focal point of the fundraising campaign will be a celebrity charity ball on October 8th at the London Hilton. For more information, email helpkids@itrelief.org .