3,000 PCs pledged to our appeal

More than 3,000 PCs have been pledged so far to our Computer Aid 2004 appeal.

We're asking the UK's IT directors to donate their old PCs so they can have a second life in the developing world.

And hundreds of organisations from the public and private sectors have offered to back the campaign.

City College Brighton and Hove donated 60 PCs after contacting Computing.

?Working in education, you become very aware of how technology can change people?s lives and prospects,? said network infrastructure technician Mark Wilson.

The College is planning to donate more equipment in the next month.

Computing is working with specialist charity Computer Aid International, which provides a free re-conditioning service to help companies dispose of unwanted kit effectively.

Donated computers are tested, refurbished, fully upgraded and shipped to developing countries. The charity guarantee donors GCHQ-approved data removal from any hard disk.

?We estimate that the 3,000 PCs pledged will result in over 10 millions hours of beneficial use by schools and community organisations,? said Tony Roberts, director of Computer Aid International.

If you would like to help the appeal, email computeraid@computing.co.uk