Moving Forward

For the past five years on World AIDS Day, Roche has held the Global Roche Employee AIDS Walk, a worldwide walk to support children affected by AIDS. The event is a special form of social responsibility. In 2007, 14.000 employees from 95 sites walked on December 1st and generated one million Swiss francs donations to support the AIDS orphans in Malawi.

Year on year, the AIDS Walk has been a huge success – and in 2008 we have  given it a fresh look – reflecting both the innovative and unique aspects of the walk and broadening its focus to support vulnerable children, not only  those affected by HIV/AIDS.  To emphasis this, the walk has a new name - the Roche Children’s Walk.

Roche remains committed to making a long-term difference via our projects in Malawi to help AIDS orphans.  At least half of all funds raised from the Roche Children’s Walk will continue to be donated to our partners ECPP and UNICEF to help provide much needed support for over 3’000 children: food, clothing and education at both primary and secondary school levels.

At the same time, we have recognized that Roche employees often want to help children with clear needs but closer to home.  So beginning in 2008  affiliates have the option to donate up to half of the money they raise to support a local project providing help to vulnerable children, not only those affected by AIDS.  This development is further reflected in the name change.