Norwegian based Helly Hansen is a brand known to most for their extreme outdoor gear, clothing and outerwear, all of which is capable of holding up to the world’s harshest conditions.  But today, we wanted to take a moment to highlight not only Helly Hansen, but also their continued support of UK based charity Walking with the Wounded (WWTW).   WWTW is a fantastic charity that supports the re-training and re-education of physically and mentally wounded servicemen and women by funding training programs and education courses to help wounded service people find employment. Part of their fundraising includes staging extreme expeditions that also help to illustrate the exceptional courage and determination of injured soldiers.

Helly Hansen signed on with WWTW during its inaugural expedition to the North Pole in 2011 and again in 2012 when they outfitted the Walking with the Wounded 2012 Mount Everest summit attempt.  This year, Helly Hansen has announced their support for the latest Walking with the Wounded expedition, signing on as the official clothing partner for Walking With The Wounded Allied South Pole 2013 Challenge (which departs in November 2013).

The 2013 Walking with the Wounded expedition will include three teams of wounded servicemen from the United States, UK and Commonwealth (Australia and Canada), with each team racing against each other in an attempt to reach the Geographic South Pole in Antarctica.  Also taking part in the 208-mile race as part of the British team, officially called Team Glenfiddich, will be Prince Harry.

In order to keep the teams safe and comfortable during their multi-week trek through the coldest, windiest and driest place on earth, Helly Hansen will be supplying all members with a full range clothing and outerwear. The gear provided to the teams by Helly Hansen is some of the most technically advanced gear on earth, perfectly suited to the harsh environments the teams will be facing. The WWTW gear has been designed based on the knowledge Helly Hansen has gained through years of protecting and facilitating professionals who’ve made their living in extreme conditions as well as from their past experiences with Walking with the Wounded.

“We continue to be inspired and humbled by the sheer determination of these wounded servicemen,” said Erik Burbank, vice president of marketing at Helly Hansen. “The South Pole is undoubtedly one of the toughest places on earth to reach, and to attempt a challenge of this kind after experiencing such life-changing injuries is simply awe inspiring. Helly Hansen is thrilled to be able to supply equipment, gear and clothing that will help to provide each team member with the confidence they need to succeed with this quest.”

Included in the Walking with the Wounded kit are the following:

Verglas Expedition Down Parka and Down Trousers

Designed for Polar expeditions and extreme cold, the Verglas Expedition Down Parka is a key piece for keeping the servicemen warm in Antarctica. The jacket was developed with input from the WWTW expedition to the North Pole in 2011 and features a full box construction filled with European 700 fill power down for supreme insulation. The jacket is manufactured using a strong but light Pertex fabric, meaning that despite its large size it is incredibly lightweight. The design is protective and functional with extra length, a big hood, and large zips and buttons that can easily be operated when wearing mittens. The Verglas Expedition Parka is available in the latest Helly Hansen Collection. The Down Trousers are available on request.

Expedition Shell Jacket and Salopette Trouser

This windproof outerwear is made in a highly breathable and waterproof HellyTech fabric commonly used for skiing. The kit has been developed as a result of the 2011 North Pole expedition and is specifically designed for use in Polar regions. This jacket and pant provides extra protection against extreme wind and cold, and features over-sized zips and buttons for ease of operation when wearing gloves. In addition Helly Hansen has made personal modifications for several of the wounded servicemen in order to create solutions that are tailored to cater for their various injuries.

Expedition Mitten

To cater for individual requirements, Helly Hansen has developed a component system with a shell outer mitten featuring an option of two different inner mittens; one of boiled wool and one of Helly Hansen’s unique lightweight and quick-drying Helly Hansen Fiberpile. In addition a fleece glove is supplied for use when mittens have been removed to deal with tasks requring the use of the fingers, and to protect the bare skin from sticking to metal components. The outer shell mitten is constructed with goat leather palm for maximum grip and durability. It features an outside attachment point and a leach for added security.

Baselayers

Knowing that moisture management is key when dressing for an Antarctic expedition, Helly Hansen has utilized its extensive range of baselayers and LIFA technology. The teams will be wearing HH Dry, a lightweight 100% synthetic baselayer, to move sweat away from the skin which is important during high intensity skiing. As a second layer they are using HH Warm, a baselayer combining the LIFA fiber with Merino Wool, making it ideal for moving moisture whilst keeping warm.

Photos via: http://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/

Welcome back, happy Monday and Merry Christmas to those who celebrated yesterday.  To kick things off this morning, we wanted to start with a positive story from Daimler.  Chances are, you have heard the horrible reports coming out of Thailand –  the death toll continues to rise and they are in need of all the support they can get.  To help the Thai government, Mercedes-Benz Thailand has stepped up to help combat the effects of the flood by providing two all-terrain Unimog all-wheel-drive vehicles. Now that the floodwaters are receding, crews have begun to clean up Bangkok — a task that will likely take weeks or even months to complete. This is a task for which Mercedes-Benz Unimogs are ideally suited. They will help to transport debris from areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz Thailand will officially hand the vehicles over to the Thai Red Cross Society on December 23. The ceremony will be attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. She is also known as the Princess of Technology, due to her interest in and knowledge of new technologies and how they can benefit her country.

Vehicles are able to ford depths of up to 1,200 mm

Mercedes-Benz Thailand selected two Unimogs for the cleanup task because the vehicle has special characteristics, in particular the ability to ford unusually deep waters of up to 1,200 mm. Says Gerald Buechler, the manager in charge of the project at Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, “As a result of a concerted action by all of the relevant units at Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, it took us only ten working days to complete all of the preparations for transporting the two UNIMOG U4000 trucks by air.” In cooperation with DHL and Thai Cargo, the two vehicles were loaded onto planes in Frankfurt on December 1.

Matthew James, a fourteen year-old British teenager, was recently fitted with an i-LIMB™ Pulse prosthetic hand, thanks to a letter he recently wrote to Ross Brawn of Mercedes GP Petronas. In the letter, he asked for roughly $57,000 in order to pay for a high-tech artificial hand. Amazingly enough, the 14 year-old is now the proud wearer of “the most advanced prosthetic limb in the world.”

James was born with a “congenital defect which meant his left arm only developed up to his wrist.” As a result, he has been wearing an artificial limb with a standard clamp with only an open and close mechanism.

With the active lifestyle, typical to all teenagers, James needed more from his prosthesis than and longed for for the far superior prosthetics from Touch Bionics. Unfortunately due to their high cost, his family was unable to afford it.

Instead of giving up, James decided to take action. He wrote a letter to the boss of the Mercedes GP Petronas F1 racing team, Ross Brawn in which he explained his situation and suggested that a sponsorship of sorts would help him greatly. If Mercedes were to cover the expenses associated with the new limb, the company could put its logo onto it — just like some companies put ads onto F1 cars.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team, said: “Matthew’s letter to the team was very touching, and of particular personal significance given my close relationship to Reading School, which both Matthew and I have attended. Looking closely at the i-LIMB™ Pulse, we realised how much our technologies in Formula One had in common with those used to create this cutting-edge prosthetic limb, and that we may be able to offer some synergies to Touch Bionics to assist their invaluable research. Meeting Matthew, and hearing firsthand how the new device would improve his quality of life, was a pleasure and I am delighted that our initial contact has now led to such a positive conclusion.”

The letter worked and Mercedes was incredibly touched by James’ letter. Mercedes reached out to Touch Bionics and together the two companies designed a customized i-LIMB Pulse prosthetic for James’ hand. They call it “the most advanced prosthetic limb in the world” and it’s understandable why:

“The hand is so versatile Matthew can grip a pen to draw pictures and write, tie his shoe laces and catch a ball. The hand, made from high-grade plastic with a black silicone socket, literally plugs into Matthew’s arm. Two electrodes on the inside of the socket detect electrical impulses made by the muscles in Matthew’s lower arm. The signals are then beamed to a mini-computer in the palm which translates the messages into movements, replicating a normal hand.”

“Each finger is powered by an individual motor which allows the digits to move independently. The hand is protected by an aluminium chassis-style casing which is capable of supporting a load of up to 90kg (14st). Amazingly, it is even fitted with Bluetooth technology to allow Matthew to hook up to a computer wirelessly to track the strength and speed of his movements.”

Mercedes was not able to cover James all the costs involved in paying for the prosthetic but have helped set up fundraising efforts at the site http://mynewarm.moonfruit.com/donate. Touch Bionics has also contributed by fitting the hand and training James to use it, a process which would normally have cost over $40,000.

Daimler AG is providing two million euros as immediate aid for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The donation is intended to support the disaster relief and aid actions in the northeast of the country. Further activities will follow this initial immediate action, possibly including the provision of material supplies.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG: “The consequences of the earthquake in Japan are still hard to comprehend. This is all the more reason for us to demonstrate our active solidarity with the people affected by making this donation.”

Daimler has approximately 13,000 employees in Japan through its subsidiaries Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, Mercedes-Benz Japan, as well as Daimler Financial Services. In addition, Daimler has long-standing retail and cooperation partners in Japan, including Nissan. The donation is to be made available as financial support for the aid organizations on the spot. The final selection will take place in the next few days.

Mercedes-Benz USA and The Conservation Fund announced Wednesday a keystone investment in The Conservation Fund’s ShadeFund program, a new charitable endeavor to raise donated capital that will provide small loans to green entrepreneurs.

While most microloan charities focus on entrepreneurs in the third world, The Conservation Fund’s ShadeFund program will tap into the growing trend of making loans to American small businesses. True to its mission, The Conservation Fund’s ShadeFund program is aimed at giving a leg up to entrepreneurs and innovators who use natural resources creatively and responsibly to spur a greener economy.

As an inaugural sponsor of the program, Mercedes-Benz USA will invest in 10-12 Mercedes-Benz Signature ShadeFund Entrepreneurs over the next two years: select, small business owners who display an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to environmental values and exceptional artisanship. The first two Mercedes-Benz Signature ShadeFund Entrepreneurs, Connecticut-based City Bench and Bluebird Hill Farm out of North Carolina, will receive their loans by the end of the year.

“Mercedes-Benz is a brand that traces its 125-year history back to the invention of the automobile. It is a history that started with the entrepreneurial partnership of its founders Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz,” said Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for MBUSA. “It is in that spirit that we are partnering with The Conservation Fund – to provide that opportunity to a group of talented and passionate entrepreneurs who are working to innovate in the area of sustainability.”

During a time when even the most creditworthy businesses are having a hard time getting loans, green entrepreneurs face an especially steep challenge. Often, green business models are unfamiliar to traditional financial institutions and many banks, large or small, are unwilling to make small business loans of less than $50,000 because there is not enough profit to balance transaction costs and the risk.

“As an inaugural sponsor of ShadeFund, Mercedes-Benz USA is investing in the spirit of innovation by providing much needed seed capital for companies in emerging green sectors. Together we can create creative conservation solutions that spur economic development and reward environmental and social responsibility,” said Shade Fund’s director, Rick Larson.

Established by The Conservation Fund with a lead grant from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, ShadeFund is asking individuals, companies and foundations across the U.S. to make donations to help green entrepreneurs grow their businesses and create jobs. As soon as the donations are received, they are pooled by ShadeFund and can be used to support qualified small businesses nationwide. Once the entrepreneurs repay their loans, those same dollars will be recycled to empower new investments in green endeavors again and again.

Eligible industries include sustainable farms, forestry and forest products, eco-tourism and small-scale renewable energy production. ShadeFund loans range from $5,000 to $50,000 and can be used for working capital, as well as for the acquisition of materials, supplies, equipment and certification.

To apply for a ShadeFund loan or support an entrepreneur, visit: www.shadefund.org