A North East web development marathon will see the region’s best technical experts compete to create new websites for local charities in just 24 hours.

Six charities in the region are being given the opportunity to boost their online profile and fundraising potential thanks to Webdurance, the first North East fundraising ‘webathon’.

Representing a wide range of worthy causes within North East communities the six charities include: Azure Charitable Enterprises; Tynemouth Blind Welfare Society; Key Enterprises; The Children’s Foundation Whoops Child Safety Project; Children North East and Meadow Well Connected.

The event, which takes place 15-16 July at Newcastle University Inex building, will not only help to boost the future prosperity for the charities involved, but will also promote the business potential and strong technical talent the region has.

Andrew Samuel from Voluntary Organisation’s Network North East (VONNE), one of the sponsors of the event, said:

“Webdurance is a not only a fantastic idea in itself but it encapsulates the North East community spirit by showing just how many of our regions talented designers and digital technicians are prepared to give their time freely to help these charities.”

Carole Bell, Centre Manager from charity Meadow Well Connected, hopes that having the best designers in the North East overhaul their website, for free, will provide the answer to their current problems.

She said: “Webdurance will give us the chance to market ourselves and gain a presence on the web that we wouldn’t be able to do by ourselves.  The centre has been going through a number of changes recently and this has been a great opportunity to give us a fresh new website and online presence to attract new users to the centre and help promote the charity.”

Webdurance was founded by Paul and David King of web-based software company 1DayLater.com, which was recently ranked among PCmag’s ‘best free software of 2010.’

Read more about Webdurance on the event website: www.webdurance.ning.com
Or follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/webdurance