Adecco's Win4Youth team cycles up the Col du Tourmalet to raise funds for youth development foundations

26,000 Adecco colleagues will cycle 2 million km by year end to guarantee a Group donation for disadvantaged youngsters

Zurich, Switzerland, September 1, 2014. A team of 86 Adecco Win4Youth 'ambassadors'  from 35 countries cycled up the Col du Tourmalet, the renowned climb which is part of the Tour de France, as the highlight event of the 2014 Win4Youth project. The annual initiative by Adecco, the global leader in HR solutions, supports foundations giving young people a better start in life and work while fostering the engagement and values of Adecco employees through sport. In 2014 over 26,000 Adecco employees worldwide have been cycling for Win4Youth.

On August 30, the 86-strong Adecco team cycled up the Col du Tourmalet, the famous Tour de France mountain climb, marking the most important event in the 2014 Win4Youth programme. From Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the climb conquers 1,405 m of elevation over 19 km on an average gradient of 7.8%. To face this heroic challenge, the cyclists have received expert training from professional coaches. At the finish line they were welcomed by Adecco Group CEO Patrick de Maeseneire, together with the recently appointed 'CEO for One Month' Paola Ospina, at her first official engagement.

Holding high the Adecco values of team spirit, responsibility, passion, entrepreneurship and customer focus, the Adecco team contributed to this year's Win4Youth goal: to cycle over 2 million kilometres. Reaching this goal will ensure a Group donation to charities who give disadvantaged young people a better start in life, improve their skills and enhance their chances offinding work. Over 26,000 Adecco colleagues worldwide have joined the cause in 2014 and will keep cycling together to reach the target by the end of the year, while also embracing a dynamic and healthy lifestyle.

The 2014 Win4Youth initiative will benefit five foundations across the world:  

  • Friends-International , a Cambodian charity that works with marginalized urban children and youth, helping them to become productive, independent citizens of their country;
  • Argentinian Cartoneros y sus Chicos tutors children during and after school so that they can improve their education and their future possibilities in the world of work;
  • Ajuda de Mãe , a Portuguese organisation that helps teenage mothers to get an education and the qualifications that will enable them to enter the world of work and provide for their babies;
  • Polska Fundacja Dzieci i Młodzieży , a Polish charity that ensures that youngsters from small villages get the right schooling, giving them the chance and the life-skills to face the future
  • Bimbingamba , founded in Italy by former racing driver and paracyclist Alex Zanardi, makes artificial limbs for children from all over the world who have undergone amputations and do not have access to proper healthcare. London Paralympic Gold Medallist Zanardi is also the Godfather of Win4Youth 2014.

Now in its fifth year, Win4Youth has already raised over €1.28m for youth charities and sports events have been organised in more than 60 countries . In previous editions, Adecco colleagues have taken part in major sporting challenges to raise funds, including the NYC Marathon, the Athens Classic Marathon, the Garmin Barcelona Triathlon and a cycle up Mont Ventoux, in France.

To find out more about Adecco Win4Youth visit:

www.adecco.com/csr/win4youth.asp

Facebook: www.facebook.com/win4youth

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Win4Youth

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