This year, four Smurfit Westrock employees embarked on an extraordinary journey through the Open Your Heart initiative to support UNICEF and vulnerable children worldwide. Philippe Rechoulet (Facture, France), Marcello Marcelli (Lunata, Italy), Mark Brolly and Patrick Smyth (both of Belfast, Northern Ireland) cycled over 50 days and almost 4,000 km, visiting 24 Smurfit Westrock sites across the UK and Ireland.

Beginning in Amsterdam in May, the tour united teams across our business, raising an incredible €77,000 for UNICEF’s Zona Zakrila model for children in Bulgaria. This model provides protection, care and opportunities for vulnerable children and their families. Along the way, our cyclists inspired colleagues, collected donations and built awareness of UNICEF’s work for children’s rights and wellbeing in over 190 countries.

 

 

This was the second year of the Open Your Heart initiative, which continues to demonstrate the power of teamwork, compassion and perseverance. Special thanks goes to our colleagues who joined the cycle for part of the route, and thank you to Ken Bowles, Executive Vice President & Group CFO, for his active support and participation during the Ireland leg of the journey.