"Miles for More": To the Moon and Back for a Good Cause
Teams of Heidelberg employees throughout the world have been
collecting kilometers with sporting activities for a charitable
cause since April 2007 - true to the motto "Miles for
More."
Whether running, hiking, swimming, rowing or biking, "Heidelbergers" are not only doing something for themselves and their health; they are doing something good for others, too. The initiative "Miles for More" under the auspices of Chairman Bernhard Schreier hopes to push as many "Heidelbergers" as far as possible before drupa 2008. The goal: the distance from the earth to the moon - and preferably back again - because the more kilometers the Heidelberg teams all over the world collect by running, swimming or biking, the higher the total sum that will be donated to a charitable cause.
Whether running, hiking, swimming, rowing or biking, "Heidelbergers" are not only doing something for themselves and their health; they are doing something good for others, too. The initiative "Miles for More" under the auspices of Chairman Bernhard Schreier hopes to push as many "Heidelbergers" as far as possible before drupa 2008. The goal: the distance from the earth to the moon - and preferably back again - because the more kilometers the Heidelberg teams all over the world collect by running, swimming or biking, the higher the total sum that will be donated to a charitable cause.
Paddling to the Beat of the Drum
Heidelberg forks out ten cents for every kilometer. But a kilometer does not always count as a kilometer. "Since some kinds of sports are physically more demanding or burn more calories than others, the completed distances are scored differently," explains Wirnt Galster, HR Manager for the EMEA region. Another factor that is taken into consideration is the extent to which the sport promotes health. Thus, swimming and rowing rack up the most points: a kilometer swum scores ten times more , and a rowed one scores double.
Heidelberg forks out ten cents for every kilometer. But a kilometer does not always count as a kilometer. "Since some kinds of sports are physically more demanding or burn more calories than others, the completed distances are scored differently," explains Wirnt Galster, HR Manager for the EMEA region. Another factor that is taken into consideration is the extent to which the sport promotes health. Thus, swimming and rowing rack up the most points: a kilometer swum scores ten times more , and a rowed one scores double.
Almost 80 teams from Germany, Holland, the USA, Australia and China
have teamed up so far. Together they have already collected over
30,000 "miles". Employees from the Heidelberg group have been
struggling and sweating for the cause, as have members of the
international distribution and service network. Some of them have
even put up with paddling like crazy to the beat of a drum.
"At this year's Dragon Boat Cup, which took place for the
second time in July in Heidelberg, 24 Heidelberg teams with 400
members made up half the field of participants," reports
Galster. Among them was also Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Member of the
Management Board, responsible for Engineering and Manufacturing,
who swung the paddle for a good cause.
Image 1: Drachenboot-Cup:
In red, the "Eisenbeißer" (iron biters); in blue, the A3-Dragons from Heidelberg at this year's Dragon Boat Cup. Front left in the bow: the drummer who gives the beat for up to 18 paddlers.
Image 2: My Way
The troupe with team captain Henrietta Tso (fifth from left in the back row) from Hong Kong usually hikes stretches of around 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers). "Most of us like to hike anyway - for example Andy Tam (third from right in the front row), who goes hiking every Sunday. But because of "Miles for More", we've come together as a team since it's for a good cause."
Image 3: The Melbourne Hangaroos
The Melbourne Hangaroos from Melbourne, Australia, meet every Tuesday at noon for a "walkathon." They then walk two to three miles (three to five kilometers) right through Melbourne, for example through the lively district along the Yarra River or the botanic garden. The 14-person team has already collected 150 kilometers since June 2007, an additional 1,000 should have been added by February 2008.
"We walk together, because it's for a good cause. Aside from that, it's also a great opportunity to deepen work relationships. In the office we don't have the time to chat with colleagues for 45 minutes without interruption," says team captain Rob Parker (far right in the picture).
Image 1: Drachenboot-Cup:
In red, the "Eisenbeißer" (iron biters); in blue, the A3-Dragons from Heidelberg at this year's Dragon Boat Cup. Front left in the bow: the drummer who gives the beat for up to 18 paddlers.
Image 2: My Way
The troupe with team captain Henrietta Tso (fifth from left in the back row) from Hong Kong usually hikes stretches of around 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers). "Most of us like to hike anyway - for example Andy Tam (third from right in the front row), who goes hiking every Sunday. But because of "Miles for More", we've come together as a team since it's for a good cause."
Image 3: The Melbourne Hangaroos
The Melbourne Hangaroos from Melbourne, Australia, meet every Tuesday at noon for a "walkathon." They then walk two to three miles (three to five kilometers) right through Melbourne, for example through the lively district along the Yarra River or the botanic garden. The 14-person team has already collected 150 kilometers since June 2007, an additional 1,000 should have been added by February 2008.
"We walk together, because it's for a good cause. Aside from that, it's also a great opportunity to deepen work relationships. In the office we don't have the time to chat with colleagues for 45 minutes without interruption," says team captain Rob Parker (far right in the picture).
The initiative "Miles for More" under the auspices of Chairman Bernhard Schreier hopes to push as many "Heidelbergers" as far as possible before drupe 2008. The more kilometers the Heidelberg teams all over the world collect by running, swimming or biking, the higher the total sum that will be donated to a charitable cause.
