Adventure Expert Bear Grylls Challenged by Pro Athletes in New Adrenaline-Fueled Degree Men Chain of Adventure Video Series

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, Degree® Men teamed up with the world's most iconic adventure expert, Bear Grylls, to showcase its new Adventure Series of anti-perspirants and deodorant – and to bring adrenaline-fueled moments to the mainstream – in the Degree Men Chain of Adventure video series.

Over the course of the next two months, Grylls will receive a three-part chain of challenges issued by some of today's most popular professional athletes – pro football quarterback Mark Sanchez, basketball superstar Kevin Durant, and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. Former hockey great Mark Messier will act as the host for the Chain of Adventure and coach Grylls through each challenge.

Each iconic athlete was chosen for the role because of their "no compromises" approach to the game and ability to push beyond their limits no matter the challenge – on and off the field. Each was also a self-proclaimed Bear Grylls fan, which adds to the excitement of the program.

"My job is all about adventure whether I'm in the arctic, the desert, or free falling at 10,000 feet. I always embrace the challenges the same way: keep calm, keep focused, and never ever give up. But these athletes will be taking it to the next level," said Grylls. "And when facing challenges on this scale, I rely on Degree Men Adventure to help me embrace the adventure with confidence, no matter how fast my heart is racing!"

CHAIN OF ADVENTURE CHALLENGES

The Degree Men Chain of Adventure video series consists of three personalized video challenges delivered to Grylls by the athletes. Each challenge stage is an adrenaline-inducing fusion of sports and adventure that will take a page from each athlete's own playbook and mix it with a unique survival situation, including:

• Mark Sanchez – For a quarterback playing at the professional level, Sanchez's adventures start when he drops back to throw a pass and has pressure from every side. To see how Grylls handles that kind of pressure, Sanchez challenges him to escape raging white water rapids by throwing the "pass" of his life with a grappling hook.
• Kevin Durant – As one of the high-flyers in the basketball world, Durant's adventure starts when he makes a strong move toward the hoop while one of his teammates hits him with the perfect alley-oop pass. Grylls is challenged to perfectly time a jump off a cliff and latch onto a passing helicopter to pull off his own "alley-oop."
• Tony Hawk – As a legendary skateboarder who has been known to grab some "big air," Hawk challenges Grylls to redefine "big air" by skydiving from 13,000 feet with a skateboard strapped to his feet, while sticking the landing.

"Adventurous guys need a product that allows them to attack any situation with confidence, and Degree Men captures that spirit guys have to let them push beyond their limits," said Mike Dwyer, director of marketing, Degree Men. "Through Bear and our all-star athletes' Chain of Adventure challenges, we want guys to connect with that feeling of adventure and know that Degree Men won't let them down."

Part of the popular Degree Men Adrenaline Series, new Degree Men Adventure is the ultimate adventure gear responding to increases in adrenaline by releasing extra bursts of fragrance when you sweat. Whether it's working out in the gym or tackling the daily grind, Degree Men gives guys the protection they need for those everyday adrenaline-fueled moments.

To watch the video series, learn more about the Chain of Adventure program and share your own adrenaline-fueled adventure locations visit www.DegreeMen.com. You can also find Degree Men on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DegreeMen and on Twitter at @DegreeMen.

About Degree:

Degree Deodorants, manufactured by Unilever, are the fastest growing brands in the male and female deodorant categories, offering top odor and wetness protection with anti-perspirants and deodorants for men, woman and teenage girls.  The Degree Men line, a 2009 Product of the Year award winner, has experienced double-digit growth for five consecutive years with the Adrenaline Series, Clinical Protection and Invisible Solid anti-perspirant and deodorant varieties.  In the past year, the Degree Women line has expanded beyond the Clinical, Invisible, Ultra and Girl deodorants to include Nature Effects and Fine Fragrance deodorants and body mists.  All lines of Degree are available in food, drug and mass retailers nationwide.  For more information, visit www.degreedeodorant.com.  Degree Deodorant – it won't let you down.

About Unilever North America

Unilever works to create a better future every day.  We help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others.  Each day, around the world, we serve over two billion consumers. In the United States, Canada and the Greater Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Blue Band, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Omo, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever employs more than 13,000 people across North America – generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2009.  For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com, www.unilever.ca, or www.unilevercaribbean.com.  

SOURCE Unilever North America