Press Release From Norway

Stavanger Norway, August 12, 2009 --- Mercy Ships Norway has announced that Kristiansaand’s Start players in the Premier League game against Fredrikstad this coming Sunday will be wearing the charity’s logo on their jerseys. The goal is to promote the charity in Norway and the promotion is donated free of charge.

This special arrangement is due to a collaboration between Mercy Ships, IK Start, and the soccer team’s main national bank sponsor, Sparebanken Sør. Board chairman for Mercy Ships Norge, Erling Natvig, is very pleased with the opportunity. In his opinion this is important in the organization’s work to help even more people.

“We are thankful that IK Start and Sparebanken Sør wish to do this for us. Having Mercy Ships promoted in this manner is very valuable. We wish to help the poorest of the poor, but to do so, we need to be better known in Norway,” said Natvig.

“Our humanitarian efforts are primarily directed to local and regional activities. However, as a central bank in connection with the annual TV fund raising action, we have also contributed beyond our national borders for many years,” says Gry Moen, Marketing Director for Sparebanken Sør, whose logo normally decorates the Start jersey.



“When local enthusiasts in Mercy Ships asked to borrow our advertising spot on the Start uniform for a game, it was easy for us to say yes. We know that Mercy Ships gives many people new opportunities for a better life. In addition, we are impressed by the volunteer effort and enthusiasm of the individuals who operate these hospital ships. We cheer on Start and Mercy Ships and wish them the best of luck in their future work,” she stated.

IK Start channels its community service through its daughter company Start Life Support AS, and supports projects both nationally and internationally.

“Start Life Support is Start Football’s community service program, and has a goal of helping those less fortunate locally, nationally, and internationally. We already have many ongoing projects, but when the request from Mercy Ships came, we thought the dedication and work was so exciting, that it was not difficult for us to promote the project. Mercy Ships efforts on behalf of the poor is unique, and for us to have the opportunity to use our own stadium to tell about this wonderful work feels very right” said Director Helge Josdal, Start Life Support AS.

Mercy Ships is an international Christian charity which utilizes hospital ships to bring medical aid to some of the world’s poorest countries. In recent years, the organization has concentrated its work in West Africa, giving free aid to the people of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin Togo and Ghana. The organization has the world’s largest privately owned hospital ship, Africa Mercy, and helps thousands of people each year.