The Xiamen International Marathon is an event with more than 77,000 runners from 46 countries - among them 670 employees from ECCO’s shoe factory and tannery in Xiamen.
“I am very proud that we have so many employees taking part in this mass sports event. It was fantastic to see the continuous enthusiasm from our people for this annual event,” says Gary Smale, President of ECCO Xiamen and ambassador of the Marathon team.
The ECCO employees run to raise money. Each kilometre generates 0.6 euro from ECCO and 0.6 euro from the shoe factory and tannery Labour Unions. With a total distance of 9,664 kilometres they have raised 11,615 euro that will be donated to the ECCO Xiamen Charity Fund, which serves to support local charity activities.
“Such running activity is not only to challenge ourselves, but also to build up a strong connection between ECCO Xiamen and the local community by contributing to local charity activities,” says Gary Smale.
The 670 ECCO runners were supported by ECCO stations alongside the route. The stations were ready to support the Marathon runners and provide them with refreshments as well as mental support and cheering.
The Marathon has been an ECCO company event since ECCO Xiamen organised its employees to participate in 2009. This year 69 employees did a full Marathon, 67 a half Marathon and 534 did 10 or 5 kilometres.
About ECCO
More than 350 million pairs of ECCO shoes have walked the earth since 1963, when Karl Toosbuy founded the company in Denmark. ECCO is one of the few major shoe manufacturers in the world to own and manage every step of the shoemaking process – from leather production through manufacturing in its own factories and all the way to its stores. ECCO’s Scandinavian design philosophy, “The shoe must follow the foot”, is guiding the company. ECCO creates high-comfort, functional, stylish shoes and timeless bags, accessories, small leather goods and shoe care products. Still family owned, ECCO is headquartered in Denmark and employs more than 19,500 people of 57 nationalities worldwide. ECCO products can be found in the 1,100 ECCO stores and 14,000 other sales locations in 85 countries.