As drupa 2008 gets underway in Düsseldorf, the first round of
the global health and fitness initiative "Miles for More"
from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has already
reached the 135,000 mile mark on its planned "route to the
moon".
Since April 1, 2007, some 1,750 Heidelberg employees in 165
teams from 14 countries have been running, cycling, swimming, and
rowing to collect their "miles". Every "Miles for
More" team is made up of at least five and at most 20
Heidelberg employees. Heidelberg launched the initiative in 2007,
in a bid to help its workforce keep fit, encourage team spirit, and
support social and charitable projects. Heidelberg has paid for the
miles racked up so far by donating a total of 15,000 Euro to
charity, with 5,000 Euro going to each of three international aid
organizations.
"The success of our 'Miles for More' health
initiative has far exceeded our expectations. An extraordinary
number of Heidelberg employees around the world are getting
involved to improve their fitness and help build team spirit - all
the while helping those in need. But the initiative is not done
yet! The ultimate target of 384,400 miles, the distance between the
earth and the moon, is drawing closer - as is the return
jourey," explains Bernhard Schreier, Patron of the initiative
and CEO of Heidelberg.
5,000 Euro has been donated to each of the following
organizations:
- In Asia - Terra Humana e.V.: To help build homes for
mothers suffering with leprosy in Burma.
- In Africa - Aktion Canchanabury e.V.: To support
projects on HIV/Aids and leprosy/TB. And more specifically, to
help build a well close to Addis Ababa.
- In Latin America - Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern
e.V.: To support children's villages for orphans and other
children who require support by providing schools, training
workshops, and hospitals.
Image:
Wirnt Galster, Project Manager of "Miles for More"
at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (on the very right), hands over a
check to Heidelberg employees that will help support charities
working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 9299 50 77
E-mail:
matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com