blog.

We have just finished working on creating a new microsite for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland's fundraising team - Take a Challenge

We were briefed to bring all their regular fundraising sporting activities together under one heading and one identity to promote the different sponsored events they have throughout the year.

I'm not into running or swimming myself, but I think I could manage a walk in cuba ...

Ireland are having their first Mud Run on Saturday 27th February 2009, sponsored by Persil, and to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland.

The challenge was to create an visual identity for the event, and a microsite accessible through MSI's main website, that would enable users to log in and monitor their own contributions to their account.

They've had a record number of sign ups, and hopefully the event will go off with a bang - it'll certainly be something worth taking a look at for next year!

It's been an incredibly busy first quarter of 2008 for us at Focus New Media, with a number of high profile project wins to keep us busy:

• the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland have commissioned us to build a new web site and content management system.

• one of our longest established clients Coldharbour Systems are having a bespoke eLearning portal added to their web site.

• we're putting the finishing touches to youth web sites for Bath and North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council, and we've also started work on a similar project for Bristol City Council.

• and we're delighted to have been chosen by Sustrans to redevelop their online store.

We'll also be making some exciting announcements in the very near future regarding our ambitious expansion plans at Focus - so watch this space or subscribe to our newsletter to be in the know first.... 

A return visit is planned next month to Dublin, thanks to our bid being accepted by MS Ireland. You may remember it was my first trip to Ireland back in December, which I absolutely loved and am looking forward to visiting again. We're also pleased to be working with such an important charity and will keep readers up to date on this blog, by our newsletter and in the news section.

While Lisa dined out on croissants and hearty English fare yesterday, I quaffed a few glasses of complimentary red with the cream of Bristol media society... dahling! 

It seemed that everyone had turned over the same leaf, with a collective decision made to be sociable and 'get out there'. 

Goldbrick House's champagne bar was heaving with an eclectic mixture of folk representing the entire spectrum of media.  I met cameramen, post production crews, an artistic dance director and a lovely illustrator amongst others, whose lengthy job titles prevent me from mentioning them here.  What they all had in common, however, was an open, friendly approach - cooperation rather than competition seemed to be the order of play here.

Bristol Media are doing a great job of providing a link between disparate arms of the well established media body here in the South West - I'm looking forward to the next event in February.