Last Sunday, the Wings for Life World Run once again brought together thousands of people all over the world in pursuit of a shared goal – supporting spinal cord research. Casinos Austria resumed its role as a long-standing partner in the world’s largest charity run, once more demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility.
Erwin van Lambaart, General Director, had this to say about Casinos Austria’s social commitment: “This race is all about community involvement, and it’s quite impressive to see what can be achieved when many people all work together to achieve a common goal. For us, assuming responsibility for our society has meant going beyond our own core business to make a lasting impact for almost 60 years, and that’s why we’re delighted to support the Wings for Life World Run. I’m particularly pleased with the dedication of our staff as they helped out and participated in the run and assumed responsibility as a matter of course.”
Commitment that goes beyond sponsorship
In addition to financial support, Casinos Austria adopted a deliberately open and approachable presence, with a focus on providing information, fostering dialogue and encouraging participation. In the Event Village outside of Schönbrunn Palace, modern modular event containers were used to create an inviting space for people aged 18 and over, encouraging them to mingle. The interactive quiz on player protection not only provided an engaging way to learn, but also underscored Casinos Austria’s commitment to implementing innovative measures for responsible gaming. In the specially designed casino area, games such as the popular giant roulette wheel invited visitors to have a go. Personal conversations and keen interest throughout the weekend made the area a lively hub in the larger context of the event.
Employees as part of the movement
Part of this extensive commitment was already in place before the run even got underway: as part of the corporate volunteering programme, over 20 volunteers from Casinos Austria helped with preparations in the run-up to the event. Their efforts helped to make sure that everything ran smoothly on the day – and demonstrated just how much this kind of commitment is just second nature at Casinos Austria.
Over 120 employees from the Group also took part themselves, joining the run as a team – visible, motivated and with a clear message: social commitment is not just a declaration of intent, but something to actually put into practice.
“Lucky Kilometre 13”: a boost for everyone along the way
This sense of community was also evident along the route. Casinos Austria offered an additional boost with its “Lucky Kilometre 13” initiative: music and plenty of cheering-on gave runners, walkers and wheelchair users a palpable energy boost. Many took this moment as an opportunity to keep running – spurred on by the applause, the rhythm and a shared sense of euphoria for the cause. This symbolic stretch of the route stood for perseverance, solidarity and a shared commitment to anyone unable to run themselves.