(June 07, 2008) As drupa 2008 gets underway in Düsseldorf, the first round of the global health and fitness initiative "Miles for More" from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has already reached the 135,000 mile mark on its planned "route to the moon".
 
Since April 1, 2007, some 1,750 Heidelberg employees in 165 teams from 14 countries have been running, cycling, swimming, and rowing to collect their "miles". Every "Miles for More" team is made up of at least five and at most 20 Heidelberg employees. Heidelberg launched the initiative in 2007, in a bid to help its workforce keep fit, encourage team spirit, and support social and charitable projects. Heidelberg has paid for the miles racked up so far by donating a total of 15,000 Euro to charity, with 5,000 Euro going to each of three international aid organizations.

"The success of our 'Miles for More' health initiative has far exceeded our expectations. An extraordinary number of Heidelberg employees around the world are getting involved to improve their fitness and help build team spirit - all the while helping those in need. But the initiative is not done yet! The ultimate target of 384,400 miles, the distance between the earth and the moon, is drawing closer - as is the return jourey," explains Bernhard Schreier, Patron of the initiative and CEO of Heidelberg.

5,000 Euro has been donated to each of the following organizations:

    •    In Asia - Terra Humana e.V.: To help build homes for mothers suffering with leprosy in Burma.
    •    In Africa - Aktion Canchanabury e.V.: To support projects on HIV/Aids and leprosy/TB. And more specifically, to help build a well close to Addis Ababa.
    •    In Latin America - Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern e.V.: To support children's villages for orphans and other children who require support by providing schools, training workshops, and hospitals.