KLA employees raised $61,010 during this year’s annual Tour de Cure event, which supports the American Diabetes Association (ADA). This was the most KLA has raised in the last four years and a 147% increase from last year’s total.
Tour de Cure, a national event created by the ADA, has become a KLA Foundation tradition during the month of October. This year, employees were encouraged to join the ADA’s virtual bike ride on Sunday, Oct. 10 and participate in self-guided walks, bike rides and runs throughout the rest of the month. There were 43 KLA team members which is considered “very good turnout for COVID times,” said Jon Madsen, KLA senior vice president and general manager of metrology.
View The Augmented Reality Route
Participation in the virtual bike ride involved the use of an augmented reality app, Rouvy AR. Using the app, riders were able to participate in the same landscape as their teammates. This year’s route was 12.48 miles long and based on a famous course in Italy, Granfondo Stelvio Santini.
The virtual event was open to all U.S. employees and registration was free of charge. However, employees who donated $250 or more to the ADA received KLA-branded cycling kits. To boost comradery, KLA also hosted a Zoom session for participants to join during the scheduled bike ride.
Advancing Humanity Through Health Equity
KLA employees and the KLA Foundation are long-time supporters of the ADA and participate in activities that help advance health equity. In 2020, the ADA launched their #HealthEquityNow initiative, which advocates for lower prescription costs and more equitable access to healthcare, especially for those with diabetes.
Health and wellness are strategic areas of focus for the KLA Foundation, alongside other UN Sustainable Development Goals we’ve aligned with to support and promote education, wellness and community enrichment. Our employees enjoy supporting these causes through fundraising activities, time investments and in some cases, a lot of sweat.
“Giving back to the community is an honor and responsibility we have to help others that are in need. This is community. I was particularly touched in this Tour de Cure when I was thanking somebody that participated and they said ‘I am so glad KLA is supporting the ADA, my daughter has Diabetes Type A.’ It stopped me in my tracks, put things into perspective and made all of the effort completely worthwhile.” – KLA Senior Vice President and General Manager of Metrology Jon Madsen
To learn more about the funds raised by the KLA Foundation, visit our website. If you’re interested in advancing humanity with us, apply for a career at KLA.
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