Lonza's Crew: From the Lab to the Track

It was a wet and wild September 25th around the RheinEnergieSTADION, but the dreary weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of nearly 20,000 participants who took part in North Rhine-Westphalia’s largest corporate race, the B2Run Cologne, Germany. 

This year, Lonza upped the ante with a whopping 39 participants, 15 more than last year. Clearly, word had spread that this event was not only about getting a workout, but also about doing good—without the risk of spreadsheets or PowerPoints. The B2Run isn’t just about racing against time; it’s a race for health, charity, and sustainability. And Lonza’s team showed up ready to crush all three.

Lonza, along with all 599 other companies at the B2Run, had the opportunity to register participants as "charity starters" for an additional €5 per person. This money went straight to DKMS, a German nonprofit organization fighting against blood cancer. For Lonza employees, the extra €5 wasn’t even a question—it was a no-brainer. After all, how often do you get to burn calories and fight cancer at the same time?

And it didn’t stop there. DKMS even set up a booth at the event where participants could register as stem cell donors, giving them the chance to save lives just by swabbing their cheek. Imagine finishing a 5 kilometer run, grabbing a celebratory banana, and then registering to be a superhero. That’s exactly what was happening at the B2Run. We’re not saying the free snacks were the real motivator here, but hey, a little post-run fuel never hurts, right? Or was it the free Lonza shirt?

If there’s one thing Lonza knows, it’s that teamwork makes everything better, whether it’s in the office, in the lab, or on the running track. Running together isn’t just about reaching the finish line first—it’s about motivating each other, sharing in the collective exhaustion, and having a laugh when someone (inevitably) takes a wrong turn because they were too busy chatting.

Written by

Peter
Director Scientific Support &  Service