Once a year, something special happens at KAEFER. Across continents and time zones, colleagues lace up their running shoes, hop on bikes or treadmills, grab inline skates, footballs or tennis rackets and start moving. Whether it’s walking, running, cycling, or playing sport, every kilometre counts. Because this is more than exercise. This is the Venuslauf, a global charity event organised by the KAEFER FOUNDATION.
The Venuslauf turns physical activity into donations for cancer charities. What began as a small, local run in a park in Bremen, Germany, has grown into a worldwide KAEFER tradition. In 2020, when the pandemic made gathering difficult, the Venuslauf went global – opening the door for colleagues, families, and friends across the world to join in and experience the power of being part of one KAEFER Team.
Since then, participation has soared. Last year, with the help of almost 5,000 participants from 27 countries, KAEFER reached an extraordinary milestone: 55,731 kilometres – enough to circle the globe.
More than kilometres
The Venuslauf is not just about distance – it’s about connection, solidarity, and showing what’s possible as one global team. Employees join individually, with families, with friends, or side by side with colleagues. Many organise local sports events, share photos and stories, and motivate each other across borders.
Behind every kilometre lies a personal story: a sporting milestone, a moment of togetherness, or a personal connection to cancer. The Venuslauf reflects the many faces of the KAEFER Team spirit, as these voices show:
Stories of strength and resilience
For some, Venuslauf is more than charity event – it’s really personal. Colleagues like Stéphanie from France and Claudio from Brazil have battled cancer themselves, and their stories remind us of the deeper meaning behind every kilometre.
Stéphanie’s Story
“The Venuslauf means a lot to me because I was personally touched by cancer.
I had a very aggressive breast cancer when I was 45 years old and given the fact that the fatality rate of this particular cancer is 40%, I’m quite lucky I’m still here. I went through the surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy…this was tough. I lost my hair, got sick, went through a lot of pain. But eventually, the treatment worked, and in the end, this is what counts.
I’m married and have two children, at the time they were 15 and 18 years old, and the impact was not only on myself but also on my family. It was a hard time to go through together. Back then, we all thought I might die of it, but we did our best to keep hope and trust the French medical system, and that the treatment would give results. Family, friends and colleagues from KAEFER were very supportive.
This traumatic experience does change one’s mindset. I found resources to fight the cancer that I didn’t even know I had. During my treatment, I would go for a walk daily, to help both my mental & physical health and to relieve aches in my body (the chemo really did hurt). When everything was over, I started to cycle again, for my shopping errands, to see my friends, to work, to go out and I never stopped since.
Running and cycling make me feel alive and when I look back, knowing that I have these resources gave me the idea to give myself the challenge to run a half-marathon at 49, and the Paris marathon at 50 to celebrate my 5-year cancer-free life (which I never ever thought about before having cancer). To train for the marathon and run long distances was the first challenge because it takes months… but to manage to finish it was quite an indescribable feeling!
Overall, I changed a lot of habits. I realised that better eating habits and regular physical activity would help me, both during and after my treatment, to live better and, above all, longer.
The Venuslauf enables me to show everyone and myself that I’m still here, trying to collect kilometres so people and especially children who suffer from cancer get the right treatment and live longer.
The Venuslauf might resonate with me more than with other people, but the important thing is that anyone wishing to participate can actually participate – children, teenagers, adults, athletes, non-athletes – and it’s a good way to raise awareness of how physical activity has a positiv impact, not just because of the charity part, but also in growing up and ageing healthier. All thanks to KAEFER and the KAEFER FOUNDATION.”
Claudio’s Story
“I was diagnosed with cancer in my digestive system and underwent treatment that lasted more than 10 years. I found in sports an ally to help my body get through the aggressive treatment. Sports also helped a lot psychologically during my treatment.
I started by running 5 kilometres to change my sedentary lifestyle and gradually increased the distance. In 2012, I participated in a 75-kilometre relay race with 8 people and saw athletes who ran the entire course alone. I was amazed and wondered how that was possible. From that day on, I made up my mind that one day I would run that 75-kilometre race myself. And it happened just a year later!
Since then, I have participated in several ultramarathon races in Brazil and abroad. My goal for this year’s Venuslauf is to beat my previous result, which was 405 km during the weekend.
I am a different person since I started physical activities. When performing sports, I make decisions, set goals, and solve many everyday problems.
For me, Venuslauf is part of my racing calendar. I train for this event and dedicate myself to it in the same way I do for other competitions. And that gets me physically ready for competitions.
In 2023, I created the “Ultra KM de Solidariedade” with friends, and during Venuslauf we ran from Santos-SP to Itanhaem-SP, collecting 2,500 kg of food and 48 blankets that were donated to various charities in the Baixada Santista region.
What I love about the Venuslauf is helping others through donations and support for organisations. Every year the goals increase, and we always strive to achieve or exceed them. Many people who were previously inactive now continue their healthier habits throughout the year thanks to Venuslauf.
I would like to say to everyone who is still thinking about participating: participate, no matter how many kilometres you can do. If everyone does a little bit, we will reach our goal and many lives will be impacted, both in terms of changing habits and those who will be supported the selected charities.”
As you can see, Venuslauf is more than charity – it’s personal. Stéphanie’s and Claudio’s stories remind us of the deeper meaning behind every kilometre. Their courage and experience show that the Venuslauf is not only about physical activity, but also about health, standing side by side, supporting each other, and proving that no challenge is faced alone.
This sense of standing together extends to the whole KAEFER Team. Every personal milestone, every local initiative, and every kilometre logged feeds into a collective effort that goes far beyond the individual. From Bremen to Bangkok, from Paris to São Paulo, colleagues move as one – and that is the true strength of the Venuslauf: the power of a global KAEFER Team working towards a common goal.
Ready for the next lap?
Each Venuslauf brings with it countless experiences – conversations during a run, new sporting goals, or healthier routines that last long after the event. Year after year, the KAEFER Team has pushed boundaries, circled the globe in distance, and channelled its energy into a cause that matters. The Venuslauf is not about being the fastest or going the furthest. It is about showing up, joining in, and proving that small steps – when taken together – create big impact.
So, what are you waiting for? From 19 to 21 September, join thousands of colleagues worldwide. Lace up your shoes, hop on your bike, gather your friends, families, and teammates. Let’s make the Venuslauf 2025 another milestone of teamwork, motivation, and purpose.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the kilometres we collect – it’s about the strength we build, together as one KAEFER Team.
Note: Written by humans – with a little help from GenAI. This article combines human understanding and intelligent digital tools to bring KAEFER stories to life.