Following its successful launch in March 2005, the Cable & Wireless Seychelles Foundation has been leading the way in providing community assistance. Having already donated to, and assisted, a number of local charitable organizations over the past 18 months, the Foundation has recently lent its support to the Seychelles Union of the Blind. On Thursday, the 19th of October 2006, Mr. David Deltel, Manager Marketing Communications at Cable & Wireless, and Mr. Pat Gopal, Director Network Services, were both on hand to present a cheque of SR4, 400.00 to Ms. Brigitte Lablache, the Union’s chairperson. The money was actually raised following a sponsored walk that Mr. Gopal undertook on the 26th of August 2006, when Mr. Gopal took it upon himself to walk 28 kilometres from South Mahé to the capital Victoria, via La Misere!. 22 members of Cable & Wireless’ management team decided to sponsor him SR100 each (one hundred rupees), and with Mr. Gopal completing the walk in just 4.5 hours, a total of SR2, 200.00 was raised. The Company then decided to match this sum and went about identifying a suitable non-profit charitable organization to donate to. Speaking on behalf of the Foundation, Mr. Deltel had this to say: "The Cable & Wireless Foundation is delighted to donate to the Seychelles Union of the Blind. These smaller charitable set ups are just as important to community development as some of the larger organizations in the sense that they too play a crucial role in educating and helping those affected by a physical disability – in this case blindness." Mr. Deltel added the Company hoped that this donation will help to ‘open the door’ to more financial assistance from the local business community to the Seychelles Union of the Blind and other small charitable organizations like it. Working under the slogan "A helping hand for a stronger community", the Cable & Wireless Foundation looks to provide support and assistance to specific areas identified by the company.