Late Entry Draw raises more than €18,000 for regional community projects
Focus on children, youth and sustainability / Four initiatives supported with a total of €18,310
The Late Entry Draw of DATEV Challenge Roth once again proved that it is about much more than just start slots. For every ticket purchased, five euros were donated to a charity fund – raising a total of €18,310. The full amount will be distributed to four regional initiatives in and around the district of Roth.
€5,000 for “Weihnachten Gemeinsam” (Christmas Together)
The initiative Weihnachten Gemeinsam supports families and individuals from the region so that no one has to spend Christmas alone. Everyone is welcome – singles, couples, families, young or old, with or without disabilities. Thanks to the donations from athletes, participants are able to enjoy a festive Christmas evening with good food and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The initiative now takes place in four municipalities within the district of Roth: Thalmässing, Roth, Büchenbach and Schwanstetten.
€7,310 for playground expansion in Hausen near Greding
Just a few meters from the DATEV Challenge Roth bike course, the popular playground in Hausen near Greding will be expanded with the support of the athletes. The donation will fund a seated carousel and a swing. The new equipment is intended to benefit all children in the area – perfectly reflecting the spirit of triathlon, which stands for sport, community and joy. Construction of the playground extension is planned for 2026.
€5,000 for the Roth children’s and youth fire brigade
For decades, the fire brigade has been an indispensable partner of DATEV Challenge Roth. Hundreds of volunteers ensure safety along the course every year, secure intersections and support critical points on race day. With this donation, the organizing team is deliberately strengthening youth development in the region. €2,000 will go directly to the youth fire brigade, while €3,000 will be used to purchase a training simulator that enables realistic emergency training scenarios. The donation was officially handed over during the 30th anniversary of the District Fire Brigade Association.
€1,000 for the Friends of Addiction Support Nuremberg
The Friends of Addiction Support Nuremberg have been connected with DATEV Challenge Roth for many years. The €1,000 donation from the Late Entry Draw will be used for prevention initiatives and training opportunities for members.
Free expo booths worth €40,200 for charitable organizations
In addition to the donations from the Late Entry Draw, DATEV Challenge Roth supports charitable organizations by providing free booth space at the triathlon expo. A total of nine non-profit initiatives – including UNICEF, the Bavarian Cancer Society and a DKMS stem cell donation team – were present on site. The value of this commitment amounts to €40,200. The expo booths offer these organizations a platform to raise awareness and collect donations for their important work.
A defibrillator for the Roth district sports complex
As part of the event’s sustainability and charity initiatives, the KinderHerz Foundation also received a free expo booth to promote its work and raise funds for mobile defibrillators. As a result, several defibrillators worth several thousand euros could be purchased. One of them will be installed at the Roth district sports complex, making this heavily frequented sports and community venue even safer.
Sustainability and youth development in triathlon
TeamChallenge regularly supports youth triathlon in Bavaria with a strong focus on sustainability. More than 1,000 swim caps from previous events were donated this year to school triathlons and smaller races. In addition, cycling bottles were distributed to kindergartens and children’s triathlon events, ensuring that existing materials are reused and create real value for children.
Another example of sustainable health promotion is the new school project TRIKLA (TRIathlon in the CLAssroom). The program strengthens both students and teachers through short, easy-to-integrate exercises focusing on body awareness, physical training and self-care. To support the launch of the project, TeamChallenge donated 400 drinking bottles to participating classes.
“By distributing these donations, we want to give something back to those who make our event possible: the emergency services, the municipalities and, of course, the children and young people who share our passion for triathlon. At the same time, we focus on sustainable support and the reuse of materials – because together we can simply do good,” says Kathrin Walchshöfer-Helneder from the DATEV Challenge Roth organizing team.
As the organizer of the world’s largest long-distance triathlon, TeamChallenge is fully aware of its social responsibility. Children and young people play a central role and are actively involved throughout race week – from the Bambini Run and Junior Challenge to numerous activities on the festival grounds.
Late Entry Draw: a chance to race and a benefit for the region
The Late Entry Draw gives athletes who missed out during the regular registration process another opportunity to secure a start slot. Between July 14 and November 2, 2025, participants could purchase as many tickets as they wished, directly supporting the featured projects. In total, 700 start slots were allocated through the Late Entry Draw.