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500 huskies, over 60,000 spectators, many Boels rental machines and celebrities: from 1-3 March 2024, Baltic Lights proved once again that great things are possible when people come together for a good cause – in this case, collecting donations for Welthungerhilfe, whose name means “World Hunger Aid” in English. Under the motto #HUNGRIGAUFLEBEN (END HUNGER), the event raised 75,000 euros – a significant sum!
Baltic Lights proved to be an unforgettable event, with professional teams and celebrities competing against each other in a thrilling dog sled race to raise funds for a worthy cause. Boels Rental began preparing for the event several months before the official launch, collaborating closely with TV actor and organiser Till Demtrøder, with whom Boels enjoys a long-standing partnership. On Friday, before the official opening, we met with Till Demtrøder at Boels Camp.
“From the very beginning, Boels has been an important partner and has grown alongside us. As the scale of the event continues to increase, we need more and more machines. That’s why it’s crucial to have a reliable partner like Boels Rental on site,” explained Till Demtrøder.
The construction work preparations on site began a full week before the event. Step one where the saw roadway slabs laid in the sand, ensuring the heavy machinery could be smoothly transported. Martin Koch, Area Manager at Boels Rental, explained: “The slabs were the first thing we used. They were not only the first things to be placed on the beach, but also the last items to be removed. They also help ensure barrier-free access to the beach during the event.”
In total, around 60 machines were in use across the site. These included wheel loaders, telehandlers, light masts, excavators, buggies, as well as LED walls for transmitting live images from the route. “The special thing about this event is how much everyone supports each other. If a provider isn’t sure what to do, our Boels team is happy to help out with our machines, as well as to support the small fish sandwich stand,” explained Anja Giercke, Depot Manager at Hamburg-Billbrook, who is working for Boels Rental at Baltic Lights for the second time.
The event also required 1,500 metres of barriers and two containers with viewing platforms for attendees. Building the race track and event area on site is a crucial job, but another important element is the construction of the musher camp behind the dunes. This is the place where all the huskies sleep, eat and are prepared for the races by their owners, the mushers.
”When I look around at the smiling faces of the spectators and the celebrity guests, you can see everything that they have worked so hard for over the last few weeks. Everything is a team effort with one goal: Coming together to beat hunger.”
Martin Koch was excited to secure one of this year’s highly-coveted starting places for the second time. “On Friday, I got the chance to get to know the dogs and have a brief training session with them. It is an incredible feeling to be racing across the beach in front of this impressive backdrop, pulled along by 4 dog,” said Martin after the race.
Boels Rental also collected donations on all three days. During the popular “Excavate against hunger” campaign, visitors had the opportunity to try out our electric 1.9 tonne eco-excavators for themselves. For the first time, clients were also invited to visit the site. “We are pleased to welcome customers from all over the north to support this event with us. It means a lot that they have taken the weekend off to travel to Usedom,” explained Maik Simon, North District Manager. I am incredibly proud that we can contribute to this important cause.”
“When I look around at the smiling faces of the spectators and the celebrity guests, you can see everything that they have worked so hard for over the last few weeks. Everything is a team effort with one goal: Coming together to beat hunger,” said Till Demtrøder, summing up the week’s atmosphere.
Every cent of the 75,000 euros raised during this week’s event will go to Welthungerhilfe, whose commitment to a world without hunger has remained steadfast since the organisation was founded in 1962. Welthungerhilfe helps people to lead lives of dignity and independence and to exercise their human right to a healthy diet.