Valspar Automotive Sponsors Noordkaap Challenge

For most of us, mid-December means buying presents, making plans with family and friends, and getting ready for the holidays. But for 100 hearty driving teams in the Netherlands, it meant a gruelling 3,000+ mile (4,680 km) race over ice- and snow-covered roads to raise money for the International Red Cross.

The Noordkaap Challenge has become a popular fundraising event in the Netherlands since it was started by a Dutch radio station in 2011. This year's race challenged drivers to complete the perilous journey from Hilversum, just outside of Amsterdam, to Norway's North Cape on the Arctic Ocean and return to Heerlen in the south of the Netherlands. Teams started on December 9 and finished the challenge on Dec. 21.

Along the way, teams picked up donations for the Red Cross. Funds are being allocated to "the future generation of people living in war zones and conflict areas." These children and young people are living under extreme circumstances and with few opportunities in terms of education and development.

“To carry supplies, the teams' cars were fitted with roof boxes that were personalized by local artists and kids at a primary school in Vaassen. Valspar Automotive, which has a facility outside of Amsterdam in Lelystad, contributed by supplying the complete paint system and applying the primer and clear coat. This ensured that the roof boxes came back looking just as good as when they left.

After the event, the roof boxes were auctioned off in an online auction to raise additional funds. In total, the 2105 Noordkaap Challenge raised 109,260 euros, about 117,000 U.S. dollars. For more information, check out www.noordkaapchallenge.com and Noordkaap Challenge on Facebook.