Australia’s Cancer Council is
among six global beneficiaries
of Holland America Line’s new
‘On Deck For A Cause’.
THE fundraising program, to be held on 500
worldwide HAL cruises a year, will for the first
time raise funds for six cancer organisations
outside of the US, including Australia,
Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the UK.
Tony Archbold, HAL’s director of sales
Australia, jointly launched the program
onboard Oosterdam in Sydney last week with
Gillian Batt, director of cancer information
services, Cancer Council, and the ship’s
Captain Arjen van der Loo.
Archbold said passengers on the line’s 15 ships
would be invited to donate US$20 to the
Holland America Line Foundation and to
participate in the group 5km walk around the
promenade deck (9-12 laps) on every sailing
this year.
Proceeds will be divided among the different
countries’ charities according to passengers’
nationalities, he said.
“Our fundraising programs in the past have
mostly focused on American charities, but
now, every quarter we will review the
percentage of passengers from Australia to
determine the percentage of funds to be
provided to Cancer Council Australia.”
HAL decided to extend the program globally
to reflect the line’s changing passenger mix,
which is now 25% international, 75% US.
“Because Australia is the second biggest
provider of guests to Holland America, the
Cancer Council should benefit greatly from
this,” Archbold said.
The campaign is the first major charity
announcement for HAL Australia since it
opened an office in Sydney.
Oosterdam Captain van der Loo said HAL had
been involved in a similar program since 2006,
raising more than US$3 million, and he expected
“an overwhelming response” from passengers.
“Guests are very responsive because it is fun
and they enjoy the feeling of giving back to the
world,” he said.
One in two Australians are predicted to face
cancer in their lifetime, Batt said, and money
raised through On Deck for a Cause will
directly fund Cancer Council’s research,
prevention and support services.
Walks will take place on all ships sailing in
every continent from Australia to Antarctica,
with the full program to be implemented in
the coming month.
See hollandamerica.com.au.
