A group of passionate civil engineers will be making their way across the North West of England over the coming week using nothing but sustainable forms of transport to raise money for engineering charities around the world. And they will be taking with them their mascot, Brunel the Bear.
The ‘Big Journey’ is a UK-wide charity tour organised by a group of graduate and student civil engineers from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) that will see Brunel the Bear voyage across 12 UK regions, raising money for charities that use engineering knowledge and skills to make life better for people and communities around the world.
The North West region will receive Brunel the Bear from the Wales region, following the handover today at Thomas Telford’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Brunel the Bear ended his journey through Wales with Rob Evans of Waterco Ltd, current Vice Chairman of the ICE North Wales Branch, handing him over to ICE 
North West Graduates and Students representative, Holly Cottrell of Arup.
In each region the toy bear, named after famous Victorian civil engineer Isambard Brunel, will be visiting major civil engineering structures such as bridges, buildings and railways using sustainable transport methods only.
The Big Journey aims to promote the amazing work of engineering charities who provide technical advice, training and support to developing countries and offer on the ground assistance to local recovery efforts in the aftermath of natural disasters. Basic infrastructure such as running water, waste systems and transport networks, is key to economic growth and social well-being and is an important driver in reducing poverty – the work of these bodies makes life better, safer and healthier for many people around the world.
Brunel the Bear set off from the ICE headquarters in Westminster on 9th April and will finish his UK tour in September 2011. It is expected that 500 civil engineers will be involved over the course of the journey, which has a target goal of raising £50k for five charities: Engineers Without Borders – UK; Engineers Against Poverty; RedR; EFOD (Engineers for Overseas Development); ICE Benevolent Fund.
More information is available at www.brunelthebear.org.uk