Employees “broke into” T-Mobile’s office at night to promote the Activy challenge!

Does the slogan “Help Measured in Kilometres” sound familiar? It might! It is a well-known nationwide T-Mobile campaign that returned in 2022 in a new format and continues to this day.

The beginning of the collaboration

The collaboration between Activy and T-Mobile Polska began in 2022. The main theme of the “Help Measured in Kilometres” campaign was its charity goal: converting kilometres into money donated to a good cause. The idea was met with exceptional enthusiasm and became a key part of the challenge.

Interestingly, the organisation and reactivation of the challenge came from the initiative of someone not connected to HR or PR at all. As you can see, with a good idea and the right motivation, a lot can be achieved.

Preparations

Before the first edition in 2022, even before the start, a survey was carried out in which T-Mobile employees could vote for a charity cause close to their hearts. This is how the Dr. Clown Foundation was chosen, and it received the financial support collected throughout the three months of the challenge.

There was a real buzz around “Help Measured in Kilometres”! Employees were clearly excited about the event, and conversations about it seemed endless.

The organising team took excellent care of the programme’s promotion. It started with a promotional video showing a “break-in” at the company at night and graffiti being painted on the walls of T-Mobile’s headquarters. This was their way of demanding the return of “Help Measured in Kilometres” — and, as you can see, it worked. 😉

Then, updates about the challenge started appearing regularly on the intranet, and posters were put up in the offices. In this way, the coordinators ensured multichannel communication with employees.

Challenge progress

Thanks to the collaboration with the Activy app, the “Help Measured in Kilometres” challenge gained several engaging elements. Point-based competition worked very well, both individually and in teams. The final stage of the challenge turned into a real fight for the best results, which surprised even the participants themselves.

Team members planned who would cycle, when, and where, so their team could earn as many points as possible. They motivated one another to keep going.

The element most often mentioned as a motivation to take part was the individual streak, meaning points awarded for consistency. This rewarded the building of healthy habits.

In addition, thanks to in-app bonuses for active commuting to and from work, the company encouraged employees to return to the offices. To involve even more people, the programme coordinators organised special bike days, during which the bonus for commuting to work by bike was even higher.

The opportunity to help others was an important element motivating participants to take action. As part of the challenge, T-Mobile employees also took part in a special campaign: “We walk along the Vistula riverbank to save Kacper’s life”. In this way, they contributed to another charity goal, while Activy added a points bonus for reaching the finish line.

The company prepared prizes for the top-ranked participants. At the “finish line”, employees received branded sports gadgets. Additionally, after the second edition, the company sent the best runners to a marathon in Croatia.

Taking part in the Activy challenge increased my activity, which resulted in better fitness and wellbeing. It motivated me to be active every day, and that improved my mood. I recommend it to everyone.
— challenge participant

Results

Until then, the company had been missing an element that connected teams, encouraged them to act together, and gave them a shared topic of conversation. Thanks to “Help Measured in Kilometres”, many people got to know each other, even from across Poland, not only within a single office. Everyone appreciated having this kind of initiative in the company.

Together, they managed to achieve PLN 94,000 in support thanks to employees’ daily activities. What a result! And behind all those kilometres are many stories connected with improved health, wellbeing, and fitness.

The year 2022 marked the beginning of this success: the challenge united teams and launched the year-round wellbeing programme “qZdrowiu”, focused on healthy habits, physical activity, and mental and physical health prevention.

2024 edition: new challenges, impressive results

In 2024, the “Help Measured in Kilometres” challenge attracted more than 600 participants, who covered an average of more than 500 kilometres each. For three months, participants collected kilometres by cycling, running, walking, and Nordic walking.

The effects of their efforts not only helped improve their health but were also directed towards supporting the Daj Herbatę Foundation, giving the challenge an additional social dimension.

In parallel with the sports challenge, training sessions led by the well-known trainer Qczaj took place in T-Mobile Polska’s offices. In July, a free gym for employees was opened, making it possible to combine training with everyday work and earn more points in the Activy app. Bicycle service points, organised every year at the start of the season, also became popular.

The participants’ stories best show the impact of the challenge. One employee wrote on LinkedIn:

Help Measured in Kilometres means 65 days of movement in a row, normalised blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and 10 kg less in two months. This challenge is pure joy!

T-Mobile Polska consistently includes sports initiatives in its activities. The wellbeing programme “qZdrowiu”, under which the challenge is organised, focuses on building healthy habits among employees. These actions are aligned with the three pillars of T-Mobile’s strategy: CONNECT, CARE, GROW.

The company emphasises that physical activity is an integral part of work — from organising training sessions in offices to supporting employees in maintaining their health through regular webinars and preventive check-ups.

Conclusions and long-term benefits

Collaboration with Activy through the eyes of Emilia, coordinator of T-Mobile’s charity sports challenge “Help Measured in Kilometres”.

The “Help Measured in Kilometres” challenge is more than numbers and statistics. It is a change in habits and a way to build engagement across the whole team.

Although it is difficult to clearly measure the impact of such initiatives on business indicators, employee stories show their real effect. Improved health, reduced stress, stronger motivation, and better relationships between employees translate into a more engaged and productive organisation.

Programmes such as “qZdrowiu” and “Help Measured in Kilometres” are an investment in employer branding and in the long-term development of organisational culture. Introducing physical activity into the daily life of the company shows that T-Mobile Polska cares not only about results, but above all about people.