StepUp for Charity Challenge

From left to right: Aude Marchi, organizer of the challenge, David Kieffer and Olivier Hudin, both from team 5, and Marine Perrotey representing the Red Cross.

Launched internally by Aude Marchi for the CMO Automotive, Packaging & Electrical Steels team, ’Step Up for Charity’ challenge took place this summer with one third of the team participating. Split into 10 teams, they walked an astounding 75 million steps, equivalent to circling the earth 5.5 times!

This initiative aimed to improve health and well-being, increase physical activity, develop healthy habits and foster team bonding through friendly competition.

At individual level, the 3 top podium finishers listed below received a personal gift vouchers:

• Alain Besseyrias, Technical Marketing automotive and packaging, from Team 9, clocked in over 2 million steps!
• Iñaki Heras, CTS Packaging, from Team 5, with an impressive 1,840,000 steps!
• Joachim Romann, GAM Stellantis, from Team 3, with a fantastic 1,760,000 steps!

David Holland, Operational Auto & Marketing Lead, from Team 5 shared:
“This experience was an opportunity to refocus on my wellbeing. It was motivating to have a goal and know you were not alone! I set myself a goal of walking every lunchtime, outside in the fresh air, whatever the weather. This goal has become a personal routine. I feel better and have more energy since I began the challenge. I also found myself checking the step count of colleagues regularly to see how we were doing compared to others. Overall, I enjoyed the experience and the challenge, and I am proud to have contributed to this charitable effort!”

Inaki Heras, CTS Packaging, who ranked 2nd individually but 1st at the team level, shared:
“Living in Portugalete, Spain, my daily routine is often punctuated by walking along the Nervión River. This simple act took on a new dimension when I joined the challenge. The camaraderie and sense of purpose made it incredibly rewarding. I increased my daily walking routine and explored new routes. My summer vacation in Calpe provided the perfect opportunity to rack up even more steps. Despite balancing work, training, and the challenge, I remained committed. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance, the benefits of physical activity, and the value of connecting with colleagues through a shared goal.”

Aude Marchi, who ranked 4th individually, was the top female competitor and who initiated the project, shared:
“Participating in the challenge was a revelation for me. Competing with colleagues motivated me to find creative ways to increase my step count despite having a mostly sedentary job. I adopted several strategies: drinking my hot chocolate on different floors, opting for in-person meetings, and grabbing lunch from downtown. Tracking progress became addictive, pushing me to raise the bar higher. Many of the habits I developed during the challenge have stuck with me. This challenge not only got us moving but also strengthened our team spirit. I hope there will be a next challenge!”

Remember: it’s not just about the finish line; it’s about the journey and the positive impact we create together. So, let’s keep those sneakers laced up and stay motivated with these new good habits until the next challenge!