Holland America Line Reaches Milestone $5 Million Donated to Cancer Support Through ‘On Deck’ Programming

In honor of World Cancer Day, held on Feb. 4th, Holland America Line is proud to announce that to date, the guests and employees of the company have raised more than $5 million for cancer support through “On Deck” programming that began in 2006. Currently the On Deck for a Cause program benefits six international cancer organizations located in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. On Deck for a Cause invites guests to participate in a noncompetitive 5k fundraising walk on every sailing aboard each of the line’s 14 ships, with proceeds distributed among the American Cancer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Research UK, Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and KWF Kankerbestrijding (Dutch Cancer Society). Since its inception, more than 385,000 participants have joined in over 5,300 walks aboard Holland America Line cruises.

“For more than a decade we’ve been working with guests and employees to raise funds to fight a disease that touches so many, and it’s a proud milestone in our company history to reach the $5 million mark,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Thank you to everyone who has walked or donated over the years to get us to this point in the program. Hopefully one day in the near future we’ll be walking to celebrate the discovery of, and not the fight for, a cure.”

Guests of all ages are invited to donate $20 to the Holland America Line Foundation, and on a day at sea participants join in a 5k walk around the ship’s decks. Guests may walk less or not at all, as they prefer. Participants also receive an On Deck for a Cause T-shirt, wristband and a reception following the walk. Depending on the ship, the distance to reach 5k ranges from nine to 12 laps. To celebrate the $5 million milestone, a special reception will be held on every ship following each On Deck for a Cause Walk this week, with the traditional lemonade as well as a Champagne cocktail, cake, appetizers and celebratory music.

In 2017 more than 500 On Deck for a Cause events will be held across the Holland America Line fleet, with walks taking place globally on cruises to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Alaska’s Inside Passage, Canada/New England, Bermuda, Mexico, Asia, the Baltic, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and South America.

Holland America Line and its corporate foundation’s charitable-giving programs include cash sponsorships, shipboard luncheons, free- and reduced-fare cruise donations for nonprofit fundraising events, donations of usable shipboard items around the world, employee volunteerism and other philanthropic activities. For more information about Holland America Line, visit hollandamerica.com.