The HALO Trust has appointed Stripe to handle an international PR programme supporting its 25th Anniversary Appeal.

The pioneering charity is committed to humanitarian mine clearance around the world, clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance from war-torn countries so that some of the world’s most vulnerable people can plant their crops, rebuild their homes and raise their families in safety.

Stripe’s remit will cover international media relations for the HALO Trust, driving increased awareness of the charity’s commitment to getting mines out of the ground, for good, in addition to supporting a series of events in the UK and US.

Prince Harry has today (Thursday 7th March) become patron of the 25th Anniversary Appeal. The late Princess Diana visited minefields being cleared by HALO in Angola just before her death in 1997, drawing the world’s attention to the horrific legacy of landmines.

Since 1988 The HALO Trust has found and destroyed more than 1.4 million landmines and more than 11 million items of large calibre ordnance (including 195,000 cluster bombs), cleared 9800 minefields and made safe more than 433,000 acres of land.

Guy Willoughby, HALO’s CEO, said “Many people don’t realise that wars might be over, but people are still being killed and maimed by landmines every day – there were more than 4000 victims of landmines in 2011. Working with Stripe, we have a very focused programme for our 25th anniversary year which will help us to raise awareness of this important issue so that we can raise funds to recruit and train more deminers to get more landmines out of the ground more quickly.”

“Working with the HALO Trust is a real defining moment for our ‘Making a Difference’ division” said Vicki Steel, Joint Managing Director at Stripe, who will lead the account. “The progress and impact the team have made in their 25 years is just phenomenal, but we know there’s still a huge job to be done. We’re honoured to be working with them, and supporting their Anniversary Appeal.”