2018 | ESG

Charity Rally from Germany to Gambia: Aid That Makes a Difference

On March 3, 2018, Tanja Meyer of OIL! Gas Stations and her rally partner Hans-Werner Hertzsch set out on a real adventure alongside about 50 other teams: They took part in a rally where the goal wasn’t to beat the clock, but simply to reach the finish line. Their destination was Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, over 7,000 kilometers away. The two covered the distance in a car that was purchased specifically for this purpose. They paid for all travel expenses—including lodging, tolls, meals, and the return flight, as well as the purchase of the vehicle—out of their own pockets.

The team received plenty of in-kind donations. In return, everyone who donated something was given space for a sticker on the car. This rally has been organized since 2006 by the association Breitengrad e.V. It takes place twice a year, in February/March and October/November.

All of the rally participants’ vehicles were auctioned off on-site to the highest bidder. The auction was organized by the NGO DBO (Dresden-Banjul Organization), and the proceeds benefited DBO aid projects as well as schools, hospitals, and other aid projects in need. Robert Kurtze, managing director of OIL! gas stations, naturally jumped at the chance to support his employee in this extraordinary project. In addition to in-kind donations, he also provided a generous gas voucher.

The car itself raised just under 4,000 euros for charity at the auction upon reaching its destination. In total, all the cars in the rally raised approximately 130,000 euros for the various aid projects through the auction.