Maarit Rahkonen and Riitta Järvinen, who work in Vallox’s edging line, participated in the women’s wellbeing and running event ‘Naisten kymppi’ with a group of women from 1991 to 2004. Thanks to them, Vallox was well seen and heard at the event!
The event ‘Naisten kymppi’ brings together thousands of women each year to run or walk about 10 kilometers. Participants can set the pace themselves, and there is no timing in the event. Profit of the event are donated to children’s and youth sports activities. The idea of the event is to have fun and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the exercise.
An energetic team, mainly made up of women working at Vallox, took part in the event from 1991 to 2004. The composition of the team varied slightly from year to year, but Riitta and Maarit, who work at the factory, participated in almost every event.
-In 1991, Leena Nuotio from Vallox gathered a group for the event and that’s where it started, Riitta and Maarit recall the early days of a 14-year tradition.
A cheerful group of women was well seen and heard
Each year the Vallox team prepared for the event well in advance by designing their outfits. The outfits were ordered from mail order and the women themselves tuned them to fit. Over the years, the team wore more and more imaginative outfits from Jabadaba duu shirts to bikini-nightgowns and jeans.
Vallox supported the participation of the team by offering them a ride to the event and the meals for the day. And of course, a bottle of champagne at the end of the race! Vallox ads were part of the gorgeous outfits and the company gained visibility.
We were encouraged along the way, and people shouted at us, “Doing good, Vallox!”. Once someone said playfully to us that we were like moving traffic lights because we were so colourful, Maarit and Riitta laugh.
Vallox team’s outfits in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002. The gorgeous outfits got a lot of attention.
“And the costume contest winners are…”
Maarit and Riitta remember the year 2001 best, because then the team won the costume contest. The winning outfit consisted of a denim outfit spiced with cow-patterned leggings, bags and cowboy hats. The big Vallox ribbon was like in beauty pageants. The jury described the outfits as “fashionable and sensual”.
-The victory was as a surprise to us. We had a picnic on the stadium field after the race when a team next to us came to tell us that we should go to get the prize, we won!
Riitta has worked at the Vallox factory since 1989 and Maarit since 1980. During their working years, both have worked in various positions, such as assembly line, power line and spot welding. The good team spirit and humour of the edging line, where they work now, are the main reasons why they like working at Vallox.
Maarit is going to retire in the spring 2021. She recalls ‘Naisten kymppi’ as a very pleasant event and a nice way to spend time with co-workers also in a free time.
-If someone from Vallox decides to reassemble the group for the ‘Naisten kymppi’, I would really like to join, even if I am retired.