Paxman and Rice open hi-tech treasure hunt for Crisis

Homelessness charity Crisis opens entry for UK’s first charity Smartphone treasure hunt fronted by celebrity challengers Aneka Rice and Jeremy Paxman Registration opens on 17 January 2011 for Crisis: Mission Oxford – a high-tech treasure hunt between London and Oxford.
Iconic TV personality Anneka Rice and BBC journalist Jeremy Paxman join forces to challenge the UK in the ultimate treasure hunt to raise funds for Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people. Crisis: Mission Oxford launches today, calling teams of three to six people to sign up for the event which will run between London and Oxford on 7 May 2011.
In a UK charity first, the treasure hunt will be powered by cutting-edge Smartphone technology. Celebrity challengers Jeremy Paxman and Anneka RiceAnneka Rice – known for their on-screen resolve – will deliver video clues to teams as they traverse the country, each armed with an android or iPhone handset.
Cunning, logic and dogged determination will be needed to unravel a series of clues and complete challenges en route in pursuit of the next location. To keep an eye on the competition teams will be updated on their progress, and the game as a whole, via their mobiles. Surprise special guests will add to the excitement of the day as teams plot out their routes to the final destination.
Anneka Rice, presenter of hit TV series Treasure Hunt and Challenge Anneka, said: “Mission Oxford promises to be an action-packed, exciting and fun day out and all for a fantastic cause. I can’t resist a challenge and am very excited to be involved in such a large-scale, state of the art, treasure hunt.”
Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis added: “As we look ahead to opening a new Crisis Skylight centre offering education, training and employment for homeless people in Oxford later this year, we are excited to launch Mission Oxford, a new and exciting fundraising event which is not only a first for Crisis, but for any UK Charity. With the backing of famously tenacious Jeremy Paxman and Anneka Rice, there’s a real sense of competition to the day. We urge you to get involved.”
Crisis has chosen Oxford as the destination for the event, as the charity is soon to open a new Skylight centre in the city. Skylight Oxford will offer accredited education, training and employment services and opportunities for homeless and vulnerably housed people in the city.
Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, says: “We are looking forward to the new Skylight centre opening in the city. We hope that the Old Fire Station will be turned into a facility that the homeless and the arts sector will both treasure for years to come. This event is a good way of highlighting what the city will have to offer when the building is transformed into a Crisis Skylight centre.”Entry is open to all and, with over 70 teams able to participate, it is set to be an epic event. Online entry opens today at www.crisis.org.uk/missionoxford -where teams can register to take part. The Mission Oxford event itself will take place on 7 May 2011