On 18 June 2022 at 9 o’clock the starting signal was given for the now twentieth HafenCity Run. This year, a running team from Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier once again took on the challenge of the approximately four-kilometre run with a common goal: naturally, the participants, following their sporting ambition, wanted to reach the end of the maritime route through Hamburg’s HafenCity as quickly as possible. The main motivation, however, was to raise money for a good cause through the sweaty event.
Local social commitment is very important to Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) and its various shopping centre locations and flagship destinations. It is not only a central element of the “Better Communities” approach and an integral part of the URW sustainability strategy, but has long been part of the corporate philosophy and mindset of the employees. It was therefore a matter of honour that a team from Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier with a total of 17 runners and office dog Simba did not miss the opportunity to take part in the HafenCity Run for a good cause last Saturday, despite the very summery temperatures. The route of northern Germany’s largest company and charity run took the around 330 registered teams from the start at Baakenhöft across the site of the future Grasbrook district to the finish at Amerigo-Vespucci-Platz.
Help for children and teenagers
Part of the proceeds from this special event will go to children and young people from financially disadvantaged families in the neighbouring districts of Veddel, Wilhelmsburg and Rothenburgsort via the charity partner Hamburger Abendblatt hilft e.V., who will be introduced to club sport and will also receive support in the areas of culture and education in the future. URW pays the entry fees for the participating employees as well as their catering on site. “The commitment of our employees always inspires us anew. We are really happy about the willingness of each and every one of them to get involved in the local community and to want to make a difference – to better things – through personal commitment. This is exactly what we mean when we talk about ‘Better Communities’ at URW. It is great that this is simply a reality for us through our wonderful employees,” Dirk Hünerbein summarises the HafenCity Run, for which the Director of Development Austria & Germany at URW laced up his running shoes in person and successfully completed the route.
