News

International Explorer and Outdoor Industry Icon Visits The Triangle

Helen Thayer To Share Stories Of Recent African Adventure

Wichita, KS - May 5, 2010 - INVISTA’S CORDURA® brand team is bringing world-renowned adventurer and international athlete, Helen Thayer, to the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area Sunday, May 9, through Tuesday, May 11, 2010, to captivate audiences with stories from her recent African adventure.  

“Her daring, adventurous lifestyle of trekking across rough terrains in unpredictable conditions constantly puts the durable quality of CORDURA® brand fabric to the test,” says Cindy McNaull, global CORDURA® brand and marketing director.  “Not only is she a role model to outdoor aficionados everywhere, she also inspires the CORDURA® brand team to maintain the brand’s ultimate focus on the needs of its durable fabric end-users.”

Named “One of the Great Explorers of the 20th Century” by National Geographic, Thayer will stimulate audiences with stories from her trek across Africa’s Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains and the vast Serengeti plains while living with several indigenous tribes.  Outdoor enthusiasts will see Africa through Thayer’s eyes as she details the lifestyles and cultures of the Maasai, Bushmen and Berber tribes.

Thayer will be giving her presentation “Walking Africa … Exploration of Africa’s Cultures and Wildlife” at the following Triangle locations:

• Sunday, May 9 (Raleigh, NC)
• Museum of Life and Science – 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – 433 Murray Avenue
• *  Camp Mary Atkinson (presented by Girls Scouts NC Coastal Pines) – 4 pm to 6 pm – 8591 Highway 42 East
• Monday, May 10
• *  Baileywick Elementary School – 9:30 am to 11:30 am – 9425 Baileywick Elementary Road
• REI (Durham) – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – 6911 Fayetteville Road
• Tuesday, May 11
• *  Club Boulevard Elementary School – 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm – 400 West Club Boulevard
• REI (North Hills) – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – 4291 The Circle at North Hills Street

*PLEASE NOTE –These events are not open to the general public. If media would like post-event pictures and information, please contact Ashley Andrews at aandrews@merrellgroup.com or (919) 844-2746.

Thayer’s previous expeditions across the world (noted below) have made her a true outdoor industry icon:

• Trekked  the North Pole in 1988
• Walked across the Gobi Desert in 1996 – an astounding 2,400 miles
• Walked across the entire 1,600-mile span of the Mongolian Gobi Desert
• Kayaked the 1,200 miles of the Irixana and Jaquere Rivers in a remote area of the Amazon.

Thayer’s accomplishments extend beyond her legendary explorations, as she is a best-selling author of: Polar Dream, Walking the Gobi and Three Among the Wolves.

For more information on INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand, please visit www.CORDURA.com.

About CORDURA® Brand

INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand essence celebrates individual durability: As Long As The World Is Full Of Durable People, We’ll Keep Making Durable Fabrics™. Known for its resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs, CORDURA® fabric is a primary ingredient in many of the world’s leading high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from luggage, upholstery and backpacks to footwear, military equipment, tactical wear, workwear and performance apparel. The CORDURA® brand is a registered trademark of INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated polymer, intermediates and fibers businesses. To distinguish the CORDURA® brand, the word “CORDURA®” must be spelled out in all caps in and used with an ®, and it must be followed by the word “brand” or “fabric.”

To learn more about INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand, end-use products, and marketing tools please visit www.CORDURA.com.

About INVISTA

INVISTA is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibers, primarily for nylon, spandex and polyester applications, a business presence in over 20 countries, INVISTA’s global businesses deliver exceptional value for their customers through technology innovations, market insights and a powerful portfolio of global trademarks including: ADI-PURE®, ANTRON®, AVORA®, C12™, COMFOREL®, COOLMAX®, CORDURA®, CORFREE®, DACRON®, DBE®, DYTEK®, FRESHFX™, LYCRA®, PERFORMA™, POLARGUARD®, POLYSHIELD®, POLYCLEAR®, SOLARMAX®, STAINMASTER®, SUPPLEX®, SUPRIVA®, TACTEL®, TACTESSE®, TERATE®, TERATHANE® and THERMOLITE®. More information on INVISTA can be found at www.INVISTA.com.