Mammoth fund raiser

The Time: 17:00 on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 AD the Location: Pole Mokotowskie park, Warsaw The Event: ‘Loonies’ running around dressed in suits. In short, the second Warsaw Rat Race.

It was 16.59 and wives were adjusting their husbands’ ties for the last time, women were asking their female friends whether their suits looked good on them, and the mammoth put all of his... six legs on the starting line. A minute later, 36 teams of four, started running. The runners were apparently dressed in their office clothes, i.e. suits, shirts, jackets, and carrying a mandatory folder. Patent leather shoes and high heels, however, were exchanged for trainers. A few teams stood out from the white-collar crowd: officers of the Warsaw police force in their uniforms, cadet pilots from Dęblin’s Szkoła Orląt flying school and the mammoth – an intrepid trio dressed as the mascot of the Lolek Pub (which is located in the park) and their guide leading the animal by its trunk 3.5 km to the finish line. Real marathon runners would, of course, laugh in the face of running this distance. However, it was not the time that was the most important factor in the race, but the funds raised to support the First Step programme run by the Sue Ryder Foundation. 
  After it was all over, the founder of the Warsaw Rat Race, Remco Van der Kroft of the BSJP law firm, who brought the idea over from Rotterdam, declared: “I am so pleased that the second Warsaw Rat Race again looks like it will have been successful, not least due to the professionalism of the Warsaw Marathon Foundation, but most importantly, because we will again be able to raise more than PLN 40,000 for the Sue Ryder Foundation’s First Step programme.”

The race did not last long. The best male team, which – not surprisingly at all – turned out to be the foursome from Szkoła Orląt, covered the distance within 13.20 minutes. Dęblin cadets were also the best of the women’s teams 
(16 minutes), while the mixed teams’ winner was the group from the Dewey & LeBoeuf law firm, with a time of 16.01 minutes. 
 In addition, the teams entered by Colliers International (a women\'s team), CB Richard Ellis (mixed) and another group of four men from Szkoła Orląt took their turns on the podium. Bronze medals were awarded to Moore Stephens Central Audit (women), two teams from Colliers International and Lizard (mixed teams), as well as Colliers International (men’s). Honourable mentions were given to companies that entered the most teams (three apiece): Trinity, Colliers International, Moore Stephens Central Audit and Clifford Chance.

‘Eurobuild CEE’ magazine’s team battled bravely, but did not manage to finish among the winners. However, we enjoyed ourselves, just like the other race participants. Nicklas Lindberg, president of Skanska Property Poland, summed up the event: “Looking at both the participants and the spectators, I can say that it generated a lot of fun and enjoyment. The five-lap route was interesting and allowed all the teams to reach the finishing line. However, without the support of the spectators, who filled the participants with positive energy by cheering them along the entire route, it would not have been that easy, nor as much fun. Without a doubt, we will take part in next year’s race. We are happy that we could help young people with disabilities and young talented runners by supporting the event. At this point I can already certainly promise to enter more teams for Skanska next year.”
  He went on to add that: “One of our objectives is to promote an active lifestyle, encouraging people to use their own muscle power and engaging in the activities activating all Skanska employees. To confirm this I can say that this Rat Race is not the first in which I have participated. So far, I have taken 
part in races in Moscow, Stockholm and Amsterdam.” In Warsaw, the event is still in its infancy and sometimes produces surprises. A woman who happened to be in the park on this sunny day was overheard speaking on her phone: “I am walking across Pole Mokotowskie, but I think there is some event going on here. Some loonies dressed in suits are chasing one another!” 
They were perhaps not complete loonies... but over a hundred office rats, who have a sense of humour and want to help others who are in need. ν (And)