Salzburg Research was once again part of the Salzburg Business Run Charity Challenge 2022. In its fifth anniversary year, a considerable amount of money was once again “run and hiked” together. Whether it was an ambitious trail run in the mountains, a leisurely walk or hike, climbing stairs or walking the dog – every kilometre counted!

“Against each other for togetherness” is the motto of the Salzburg Business Run Charity Challenge. Since the first starting signal in 2018, the annual event in Salzburg’s corporate world has become an epitome of sporting activity for a good cause. And this year, too, a number of records were broken.

30 company teams were on their feet from 15 June to 15 September to raise kilometres of charity money for children at risk of poverty. The donation – more than € 33,800 for well over 123,000 km of total distance covered – was handed over to the “Kinder haben Zukunft” association in a ceremony on 12 October 2022.

Legwork for a child’s laughter

Around the world in 80 days is no longer standard. How about more than three times around the world in three months, exclusively on foot? This year, too, socially committed employees of Salzburg companies who enjoy exercise set out from 15 June to 15 September 2022 to collect the most sponsored kilometres for children in teams in a sporting challenge. This year, the donations will go to the “Kinder haben Zukunft” association.

Walking, hiking, running, trekking everything is allowed in this “against each other for togetherness”, is precisely registered via app and lets the distance performance grow. Every kilometre covered is rewarded with a 22 cent charity bonus – always according to the year. The winner is the team with the highest average per capita kilometre performance.  “It is not only the idea of competition that is important, but also the incentive to promote company sports, with which you not only do good for your employees, but also for disadvantaged children at the same time,” explains initiator Wolfgang Zimmel, Commend employee and himself an enthusiastic recreational runner. “A child’s smile is the best motivation for this!

Together more than three times around the globe

Since the first Charity Challenge in 2018, the event has been on a steady rise. As the number of participating teams has grown, so has the total distance – and thus the amount raised. 30 teams were at the start this time. The record result is correspondingly pleasing: almost 124,000 km total distance – more than three times around the globe or about a third of the distance to the moon!

The Salzburg Research team “Forsche(nde) Wadeln” came 5th out of 30 participating companies with a total of 3,612.99 km in the “kilometres per /participant:in” category and thus collected 794.86 euros (rounded up to 900 euros) for the “Kinder haben Zukunft” association.
Many thanks to our participating colleagues for their commitment!

As always, the charity contributions were rounded up by the companies and organisations. In addition, the total amount was generously supplemented by the main sponsors of the Salzburg Business Run and now, of course, goes as a handsome total amount to the real winners: the children!
The donation cheque for more than 33,800 euros was handed over to the head of the “Kinder haben Zukunft” association, Alfred Pozetti, in a ceremony at the company premises of Commend International in Liefering on 12 October. The sum corresponds to about one third of the annual budget of the association.

It will also preferably benefit the affected children in the area of sports and recreational care. “We are thrilled and proud to be a partner of the Salzburg Business Run Charity Challenge,” says Alfred Pozetti. “We would like to express our sincere thanks to all those involved and are pleased that this money will thus also stay in Salzburg. Hopefully many more companies will be infected by the enthusiasm of the Charity Challengers and ensure that children in need have a future!”