Walter’s new IDE-designed Christmas tree cart is a success!

News - 13 January 2022 - Communication

As we head into the new year, we thought it would be nice to give an update on Walter and his IDE-designed Christmas tree cart. As reported to us by his parents, it seems as if his new cart is working like a charm. Walter collected more than 200 Christmas trees this year – a personal best – and raised €2,000 for KiKa.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Walter’s story… Last November, 11-year-old Walter, who runs a Christmas tree collection service (in which part of the proceeds go to a children’s cancer charity), approached TU Delft for some help. He needed assistance in designing a better tree transporter. Guided by IDE lecturer of the year Stefan Persaud, IDE students rolled up their sleeves to help Walter on his mission to collect and recycle Christmas trees and raise money for Stichting Kinderen Kankervrij (KiKa).

This year, equipped with an IDE-designed tree cart, Walter was ready for action. Working tirelessly over the winter break, the 11-year-old collected Christmas trees from the residents of Voorburg West. For his service he charged €1.50 per tree. From the municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg, Walter received an additional €0.50 per tree. In total, he earned just over €1,000, of which more than €600 will go to KiKa. What’s more, on his special KiKa donation page, Walter raised nearly €1,400.

When asked about the cart and his mission, Walter had this to say: “The TU Delft trailer really worked perfectly. It is super light, I can even lift it with my little finger and the handy folding system crushes the trees. This allowed me to carry up to five trees at a time. I am also very happy with all the organisations and people who have helped me because it has enabled me to raise four times more money than last year."

"Walter was in the media this year. As a result, people from all over the country donated generously to KiKa on the special donation page. Walter also received special responses from people all over the country. Even a grandmother from Brabant who specially sent some money. Heartwarming! We hope that Walter's KiKa Christmas tree campaign will inspire other children to also collect money for Kika,” added Walter's mother, Marjolein Dop.

Jakolien van Eijk (director of marketing innovations at KiKa) responded to the news about Walter: "Actions like Walter's have ensured that KiKa can now finance excellent research for twenty years. Unfortunately, almost 600 children a year still get cancer and 19% of the children currently do not survive the first five years of their illness. That is one in five children. This must and can be improved, but research is needed for this. That is why KiKa is so happy with Walter's Christmas tree campaign. This young activist raised enough money on his own for a week’s worth of research. But what makes his actions so special is that he also stuck his neck out and developed a new concept together with TU Delft. And with it, other children can also start their own KiKa Christmas tree campaign. Together we will reach the 100% cure sooner!”

To learn more about Walter’s 2021 campaign and how IDE helped him redesign his cart, you can watch this story from the JeugdJournaal.