SECAUCUS, N.J., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic announced that it will be supporting R.A. Dickey's upcoming ascension of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world, by providing the Mets pitcher and his two climbing companions with five ruggedized Lumix digital still cameras and a Toughbook laptop computer, products that will enable the climbers to document their ascent and communicate via social media. The knuckleball pitcher has been fascinated with Mt. Kilimanjaro since high school when he read Ernest Hemingway's "Snows of Kilimanjaro" and saw this adventure as a great means to raise awareness and money for a charitable cause that he is firmly committed to -- the Red Light District Outreach Mumbai, which is part of the Bombay Teen Challenge. The charity is an organization that rescues girls from enslavement in the sex trade and fights human trafficking. To donate, please visit [ www.crowdrise.com/BombayTeenChallenge ].

(Photo: [ http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120105/NY28386 ] )

Dickey will be joined by pitcher Kevin Slowey, his former teammate with the Minnesota Twins, and Dave Racaniello, the Mets' bullpen catcher. The group plans on an eight day ascent and a two day descent. "I'm grateful to all who have supported this effort and who will, thanks to the cameras and Toughbook that Panasonic donated, be able to follow our journey via social media -- twitter @RADickey43 and via Facebook -- Facebook.com/Panasonic," said Dickey. "It will be an awesome experience and I'm appreciative of Panasonic for providing Lumix cameras and a Toughbook that are perfectly suited for the extremes we will face. With their support, we will be able to share this adventure with all of our fans while supporting a really good cause. What started out as a personal pilgrimage, has transformed into a joint effort with Bombay Teen Challenge. My hope is that our climb will help bring awareness to a cause that is in need of attention and support."

It's an exhausting trek upward where the major hazard is altitude sickness. To prepare for the climb Dickey added an altitude training mask to his normal exercise regiment. The mask simulates different altitudes and helps Dickey prepare for the journey up the mountain.

"All of us at Panasonic, especially those of us who are Mets fans, are extremely proud to be involved in such a worthwhile endeavor and our hats are off to R.A. Aside form the physical challenge he and his team mates will face, the decision to use the climb as a means to raise the awareness of the human trafficking that exists in Africa, is indeed quite noble," said Dave Fisher, Marketing Manager, Panasonic Imaging Products. "It is also very satisfying to know that Panasonic was able to provide products that will prove very useful in documenting the quest to reach Mt. Kilimanjaro's summit."

Even though the Mets' bullpen catcher is part of the climb team, Dickey has no plans to throw a knuckleball when he reaches the summit. "I need real thick air. So I'm not going to attempt a knuckleball because I'm afraid I would embarrass myself," said Dickey. "At the summit, it's just not going to do much. Hopefully, I'll be able to breathe up there, much less throw a knuckleball."

About Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: [ PC ]) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Televisions, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness and Personal Care products and more.

Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's [ Eco Ideas ] programs. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 [ ranking ]. Follow Panasonic @panasonicdirect, and additional company information for media is available at [ www.panasonic.com/pressroom ].

SOURCE Panasonic

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