12
November
2020
|
10:22
America/New_York

Visteon employees contribute to COVID-19 relief effort with virtual charity run

Employees at Visteon's technology center in Karlsruhe pose with the cheque for the children's charity
Employees at Visteon's technology center in Karlsruhe pose with the cheque for the children's charity

The outbreak of COVID-19 around the world has brought severe disruption to plans, practices and routines – both personally and professionally in 2020. But one positive that has come from the upheaval is the proactive way in which individuals, teams and entire companies globally have stepped up to improve the overall situation – be it organizationally, pastorally or socially. 

Visteon’s technology center in Karlsruhe, Germany is the latest to collaborate and contribute to charity efforts, supporting young and vulnerable members of the local community affected by the pandemic. With the annual Baden marathon and popular B2B Run events postponed until 2021, colleagues at the site provided an inventive alternative to get employees active and raise money for a good cause at the same time. 

Running from Aug. 1-Sept. 13, Visteon employees took part in ‘virtual’ runs and bike rides – an exciting communal activity that that promoted fun, a healthy lifestyle and team spirit, all the while helping to raise money for charity.

Visteon's Klaus Beck, Lars Mattelson, Francis Kim and Sandra Hartmann (l-r) pose with a representative from Arche Karlsruhe with the cheque for €3000, donated by Visteon to help young children and teenagers in the city.
Visteon's Klaus Beck, Lars Mattelson, Francis Kim and Sandra Hartmann (l-r) pose with a representative from Arche Karlsruhe with the cheque for €3000, donated by Visteon to help young children and teenagers in the city.

Participants were encouraged to run, walk or cycle as far as they could or wanted to – be it on the street, in a park or on their stationary bike at home – then log the distance completed online, which provided an added competitive element to the initiative.

The employees involved were also invited to make optional donations to Arche Karlsruhe – a local foundation which works with and supports children between the ages of 6-14, providing food, help with homework and a safe space to have fun with kids of the same age.

 

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Francis Kim, Managing Director, Karlsruhe Technology Center
The virtual run and bike scheme was devised to help the company, local colleagues, but also the wider community around our technology center. Through a combination of ingenuity and passion, employees were able to participate in a group activity over a number of weeks, get fit, have fun and positively contribute to a worthy cause helping young people in Karlsruhe.
Francis Kim, Managing Director, Karlsruhe Technology Center
„

Following exhausting runs, long cycles and hundreds of activities recorded on tracking apps, the challenge was completed with those involved having covered an incredible 5,500km (3,418 miles). Thanks to employee and facility donations, Visteon handed over a cheque to Arche Karlsruhe for €3,000 ($3,541) on Nov. 3 to mark the achievement.