AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) was one of the sponsors of a team of cyclists from its customer Geodis Wilson taking part in the Alpe d'HuZes charity fundraising event. Alpe d'HuZes takes place every year in the Alpe d'Huez mountain range in the Alps to raise money for the Dutch Cancer Society (DCS), a nationwide organisation for oncology related work in the Netherlands. The money contributed by the event participants is spent on projects that are believed to yield the most effective results for cancer patients and potential victims of the disease.
To be eligible for the event, each applicant has to pay a registration fee of €125 and is then expected to raise a minimum of €2,500 before the start day. On the cycling day, every participant has to cover a distance of 13.8 km with an average climb rate of 7.9% six times in a row. No wonder then that the event motto is 'Never, ever quit!' The distance can also be covered by running or walking. “The cancer treatment is hard and sometimes seems never-ending. Going through it requires will and courage. I hope that the determination which the Alpe d'HuZes riders show by conquering the distance again and again will inspire those who are fighting cancer now and help them to overcome the disease. We are grateful to have had an opportunity to raise awareness of this issue together with our customer and to make difference,” said Henk-Jan van Keulen, AirBridgeCargo Airlines’ General Manager AMS. Since its foundation in 2006 more than 30,000 enthusiasts have participated in the Alpe d'HuZes event and raised more than €100 million for the charity. This year, the 10th anniversary, saw over 3,000 people take part, raising a total of €11 million.