Launch of the GazellesING.ca Blog, Created by multiple-media.com

Manon Robinson and Martine Coulombe, two participants in the 19th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, a high-profile international all-women’s sports rally through the Moroccan desert, today officially launched their team blog, Gazelles ING. The new blog will allow them to offer their sponsors visibility and to communicate with all who wish to be informed of their endeavour. Gazelles ING already enjoys the support of several companies, including ING Canada and multiple-media.com.

“This blog is a great tool to introduce our team and keep people posted about our preparation activities until next March. In the last few weeks before the race and during the race, with the help of our partners we’ll be posting new information daily,” explains Manon Robinson, Team Manager at ING Canada’s Claims Department. Manon sees the Gazelles’ rally as “a fantastic opportunity to surpass ourselves while helping promote the cause of women, even in industrialized countries, where some sectors remain male-oriented”.p>

Martine Coulombe, a teacher, wholeheartedly agrees, adding that she sees the Gazelles rally “as a challenge to learn new things–e.g. to use a map and compass, etc., since no modern-day technologies, such as a GPS, are allowed–and a chance to support worthy causes, for example schooling and assistance to orphans in Morocco via the Cœur de Gazelles (‘Gazelles’ heart’) association”.

Although GazellesING.ca is a “corporate” blog, Manon and Martine will be managing it and posting their entries independently. Even during the competition, they will be able to update their blog through any Internet connection or by satellite phone. This is possible because they use MMCM-Blog, a user-friendly tool developed by multiple-media.com that allows companies to integrate fully secure blogs into their communication strategy.

 “Gazelles ING will use our blog management tool in a way that is completely in keeping with how Web 2.0 technologies should be leveraged within companies. Moreover, it’s incredibly motivating for our whole team to see MMCM-Blog associated with such a positive project,” explains Renato Cudicio, president of multiple-media.com.

The GazellesING.ca blog is therefore the place to follow the progress of the Gazelles ING team in its fundraising efforts, until the competition, and when it tackles the Moroccan desert, from March 14 to March 29, 2009.

About The Gazelles’ Rally
Since 1990, 2000 amateurs and professionals of 33 nationalities, age 18 to 65, have taken to the Moroccan desert with various vehicles–4x4s, crossovers, quads, trucks, motor bikes–in this 100% female rally. The event aims to develop “a different version of automobile competition” that focuses on efficiency rather than speed, is entirely off-road, uses traditional navigation instruments, and is carried out in the respect of local populations and the environment, in a spirit of mutual help and personal achievement. The Gazelles’ Rally (www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com) is carboneutral and compensates for its C0² emissions since 2006.