Local charities benefit as ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage baton moves eastwards

Oct 28 2011, ISS Communications - Inchcape Shipping Services Lighthouse Relay Voyage is a beacon of light for the worthwhile causes chosen by our offices across the globe. These institutions are not the mainline international charities, but local groups usually run by unpaid volunteers serving the sick and needy in their community. To date over US$55,000 has been raised by ISS staff, our customers, suppliers and providers with additional funding by ISS itself

Since our last report, the LRV baton has found its stride. From Istanbul it moved to Piraeus, then on to Augusta and Alexandria, marking the exit point from Europe & North Africa. The baton is now on its way around the Middle East & India.

In Istanbul a presentation was made at the Maritime Association of Ship Owners and Agents, where ISS Turkey¹s Country MD, Kadir Kaya (left) presented Mrs Zuhal On, Vice Coordinator for LÖSEV (the Foundation for Children with Leukemia) with their donation in the presence of Ruhi Duman, Chairman of the Maritime Association.

In Piraeus the local maritime press, representatives of the Ministry of Merchant Marine, the Greek Navy, the Greek Ship Owners Association and the International Maritime Union of Greece were amongst guests on board the cruise ship RUBY PRINCESS at the handover of the baton and a donation by ISS local MD, Christos Makrialeas, to the Hatzikyriakio Institute of Child Protection, founded in 1889 to care for orphaned girls.

From Piraeus to Venice and then on to Augusta where a presentation was made at the Stella Maris Seamen¹s Club of Sicily by ISS Augusta MD Andrea Giustini to parish priest Father Joseph Mazzotta (centre) representing Casa Famiglia Oreb Sisters of Charity which helps children from poor backgrounds to develop socially and to complete their studies.

Across the Med to Alexandria where ISS Port Manager Emad Abdel Rahman, pictured here with some of the children from Zahia Marzouk, presented a donation. This orphanage has 40 children under its care looking after their welfare and development.

Eastwards to Dubai where the LRV baton¹s progress around the Middle East and India began. Here Flemming Jensen, ISS Regional Senior VP, presented a donation to Reverend Nigel Hawkins, representative of The Mission to Seafarers. Flemming commented: ³The Mission to Seafarers is a very worthy charity, contributing greatly to the welfare and wellbeing of seafarers the world over and especially in our region where piracy and the threat to the lives of seafarers is a constant danger.² In reply, Rev. Hawkins thanked ISS for its continuing support to the cause and most notably through ŒThe Angel Appeal¹ and other such initiatives.

The baton is now in Kuwait where the local ISS office is raising money for the Kuwait Association for Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH). From here it will move to Bahrain, Qatar and Oman and then onto India.

We extend our thanks to all ISS staff, customers, suppliers, providers and others who are so generously fundraising and giving to the local LRV charities around the world.