Moien ! We're back in this early spring to introduce you to a new personality in Luxembourg. His name, Pit Van Rijswijck, may not ring a bell, but you've probably already heard about his accomplishments on social networks or in the media.
Currently Customer Support & Agences Manager at Foyer, historical leader of the insurance market in Luxembourg, Pit recently made the news in the Grand Duchy by ranking 2nd in a major challenge consisting in running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days: the World Marathon Challenge.
The icing on the cake? This big-hearted runner took advantage of this race to launch a huge fundraising campaign with the Cancer Luxembourg Foundation, dedicated to research against brain cancer, which his father died of in 2020.
Born in Luxembourg, Pit lived there all his childhood before heading off to study Economics at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. He then returned to his native country to pursue a Master's degree in Banking and Finance at the University of Luxembourg before being hired by Foyer in 2013 as a Client Advisor.
Year after year, Pit developed his skills in the field of customer relations until he became Customer Support & Agences Manager.
"I prefer the Human aspect to the procedural aspect!"
In 10 years at Foyer, the Luxembourg native has been entrusted with important responsibilities. Today, he is in charge of two departments: customer service and mid-level support. With his two teams, his role is mainly to help and support customers in their daily operations, such as signing documents, contracts or any other question they may have.
When asked if he loves his job in Luxembourg, Pit answers without hesitation "Yes absolutely! I like to see people evolve and make them evolve, to work with them. I prefer the human side to the procedural side!"
Interested in a career at Foyer? Good news, the company is recruiting on Moovijob.com! Check out their job offers.
From "casual runner" to international marathon competitor
Active since his teenage years, Pit started running to "burn calories". "When you're a student, eating healthy isn't necessarily a priority. Running helped me stay in shape when my diet wasn't always balanced."
"I then signed up for the 2nd edition of the ING Marathon in Luxembourg with some friends. In the end, they all dropped out and I found myself running alone! Fortunately, I really enjoyed it and I continued to run more and more marathons" until he ran 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents during the World Marathon Challenge!
When he discovered the World Marathon Challenge, Pit was immediately interested in this intense race. However, the cost of registration kept him away for a long time.
Then, in 2020, Pit unfortunately lost his father to glioblastoma, a common and very violent brain cancer in adults.
Following this sad news, Pit decided to attempt the World Marathon Challenge in partnership with the Cancer Luxembourg Foundation, with the aim of collecting donations to help cancer research. Today, he succeeded in raising more than 100 000 euros of donations!
Do you also want to support cancer research in Luxembourg? Join Pit and make a donation now!
In order to secure his participation in the race, Pit himself had to do a lot of work to find sponsors beforehand: "I was lucky enough to be sponsored by my employer Foyer, by the RTL group (BCE), Grosbuch, but I also had to look for a sponsor who would help me to equip myself in all climates. Peters Sports was the one who stood by me and supported me."
Although the challenge was physically difficult, including races in freezing winds in the snow in Antarctica and then in 50-degree heat in South Africa and Australia, Pit will remember it as a beautiful human adventure:
"The World Marathon Challenge was a wonderful human experience. I met a lot of very interesting people with very diversified personalities, always positive and dynamic".
Learning to balance his professional and personal life
Although running is a very important part of his life, the Luxembourger also has to deal with his work and of course his family, consisting of his wife and two daughters aged of 3 and 6 years old. "We have managed to find an organization that suits us," he says.
"I take advantage of my lunch break to go running, at least one hour a day."
Before the World Marathon Challenge, preparation was very intense: "I would sometimes get up at 4 a.m. to go running before going to work."
Fortunately, Pit's employer was very understanding and supportive from the time he prepared until the race was over.
"I think it's a matter of discipline and commitment. If you give yourself a specific goal and figure out your 'why,' anything is achievable."
Finally... find out Pit's 3 favorite places to go running in Luxembourg
"Since I work in Leudelange, I run a lot in this area. I also love to run the Urban Trail to discover unusual places in Luxembourg city, as well as the woods between Mamer and Bridel."
Did you like this portrait? You too, share your experience, your journey with the Moovijob.com community! Contact us at communication@moovijob.com.
