BCD raises over US$ 150,000 to support A21 and help end human trafficking

Nearly 100 BCD colleagues and BCD CEO Stephan Baars  ran the TUI Palma Marathon to raise awareness and funds for the fight against modern slavery

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, Oct. 21, 2025 – BCD Travel proudly shares the momentum and support for its “BCD Runs for Freedom” fundraising initiative. Nearly 100 BCD colleagues and CEO Stephan Baars participated in the TUI Palma Marathon in Mallorca on October 19 to raise awareness and funds for A21, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending modern slavery.

As long-time supporters of A21, BCD employees and executives trained for months leading up to the event, combining physical endurance with a powerful purpose. Their collective efforts through different initiatives culminated in a fundraising total of over US$150,000. This milestone was made possible by the generosity of corporate supporters including Lufthansa Group, British Airways/Iberia, Oversee, Amadeus, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, American Airlines, WNS Global Services, MariApps, Sabre, Turkish Airlines, and UBS. The support of the John & Marine van Vlissingen Foundation and the dedication of every BCD runner encouraged by colleagues, friends and family also contributed to this total.

“Modern slavery affects over 50 million people worldwide, including 12 million children,” said Baars. “At BCD, we believe in using our influence to drive real change. Running this marathon was more than a personal challenge – it was a statement of solidarity and hope. I’m deeply grateful to our partners and colleagues who made this possible.”

The TUI Palma Marathon in Mallorca, organized annually by tourism company TUI, attracts thousands of athletes from around the world. This year, almost 100 BCD runners participated across the half marathon, full marathon, and 10K events, with every step taken in support of A21’s mission.

“I’m incredibly proud to be part of BCD’s largest fundraising campaign to date,” said Lutz Nauert, senior vice president, Global Client Team at BCD. “This achievement was only possible thanks to the dedication of our runners and the many colleagues behind the scenes who gave their time, and helped build broader awareness around A21’s mission. I’m already excited to share that preparations for the next run are underway.”

“We’re incredibly thankful for BCD’s unwavering commitment,” said Nick Caine, CEO at A21. “Their efforts not only raise vital funds but also amplify our message: that together, we can end human trafficking.”

You can still join BCD’s fundraising efforts to donate to A21’s fight against human trafficking.

Hi-res image(s)
Team BCD