Slam dunk for charity

Skyjack’s 30 for 30 Partners campaign joined forces with rental company AFI Rent to provide support at a charity basketball game in Hamburg, Germany, which took place earlier this year.

The ‘AFI Hamburg All-Stars’ – a collection of national celebrities from the worlds of football, comedy, film, reality television and ice-hockey – joined together to participate in the event, playing against local professional team the ‘Hamburg Sharks’.

This year marked the basketball event’s 12th anniversary, proceeds from which will support a Hamburg-based charity that helps young people gain the vital qualifications they need to enter employment. In Germany, without a school leaver’s certificate gaining employment is virtually impossible; the charity’s social workers and teachers work closely with underprivileged young people in Hamburg to provide them with the skills and experience they need to succeed.

“Supporting grass roots projects that have a real influence over the lives of disadvantaged people is incredibly important,” said Andreas Stumpf, sales manager for Skyjack Germany. “As one of the world’s leading suppliers of access equipment, Skyjack wants to use its position to give something back. And that is what 30 for 30 Partners is all about – supporting the projects that will have a life-changing impact on vulnerable people living in the local community.”

One of Skyjack’s vertical mast lifts, the SJ16, was used in the arena where the charity basketball event took place – captain of the celebrity team, Lotto King Karl, and the match’s umpire stood on the unit to start the game. The SJ16 was also used throughout the game by the umpire as a raised platform from which to referee the match.

With a working height of 6.75m and a maximum capacity of 227kg, the SJ16 provided an excellent view as the umpire refereed the game between the ‘AFI Hamburg All-Stars’ and the ‘Hamburg Sharks’. In addition to the SJ16, a Skyjack SJ63 AJ articulated boom was also stationed outside the event’s venue in Hamburg for the 3000 visitors to see as they entered the court.

Skyjack is on the search for 30 worthwhile projects, spread across the world, which could benefit from the use of a Skyjack machine. The machines, plus assistance, are supplied through Skyjack customers and Skyjack covers all costs up to $2500 per project.