Axalta races ahead in fight for cancer

For the ninth consecutive year, a team from Axalta has participated in the annual Kom op Tegen Kanker (KOTK) 1,000km cycle ride, raising over €5k for this leading Belgian cancer charity.

From May 30 to June 2, 2019, Axalta’s enthusiastic eight-strong team of Belgian employees cycled the grueling 1,000km across Belgium in very hot and humid conditions. To complete the challenge, each one of the eight employees cycled 125km, spread over four half days, starting and finishing in the historic city of Mechelen every day, via Antwerp on the first day, Zedelgem on the second, Diest on the third and Oudenaarde on the fourth.

The bike race took place just a few weeks after KOTK’s 100km run that was first introduced in 2018. On March 25, 2019, a team of four Axalta Belgian colleagues joined over 500 other teams that ran along the towpaths in Boom, Belgium, raising more funds for the charity.

Axalta’s employees trained tirelessly to prepare for both these events, their performance driven by the importance of the charity and the work it does.

Herbert van der Donk, Axalta’s Plant Manager in Mechelen said: “Axalta is dedicated to community engagement and to supporting the communities in which we operate. We couldn’t be prouder of our colleagues and their incredible commitment to this important cause. Cancer affects so many people and the clinical research that charities like KOTK carry out is vital to achieve higher survivability rates and a better quality of life for cancer patients. We are very grateful not only our own employees, but also to the other thousands of participants in these annual events that enable KOTK to carry on its amazing work.”

Over the past nine years, Axalta has raised an impressive €100k for KOTK. This year, the combined total raised by the bike and foot races by all the participants was €7,500.