The Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and the University of Heidelberg (Uni HD).
Families of children with cancer are often under particular strain in terms of their financial and personal resources: Frequent hospital appointments, loss of wages when parents have to care for their child at home or stay on the ward even with younger children, less time for siblings and household chores - these are just some of the very practical problems that families are suddenly confronted with.
The social workers in the ward team offer families competent social and legal advice and point out support options to help them balance therapy, school, work and family life. Team Bensheim is therefore funding a part-time social worker position at the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) from October for a period of 3 years.
Team Bensheim raises the funds for this commitment with cycling events such as the “Tour de Montana”, which the club organized this year on 17 June together with the Hochstädten support association. Over 150 cyclists rode their racing bikes on a 100 km long race course in the Odenwald and Hessian Ried. Ambitious bikers, families with children and leisure cyclists pedaled on two other mountain bike routes. Many of the participants also hiked the route to the finish point at Hochstädter Haus. A total of 820 participants covered several kilometers for a good cause. A total of 155,000 euros was raised from participation fees, sponsorship money and numerous donations.
Team Bensheim has been supporting the paediatric oncology ward at UKHD and KiTZ and the “Give time” project for over 10 years in order to strengthen the personnel resources on the ward and thus enable more individual advice and care for families. Of the total of 1,500,000 euros that the association has raised since it was founded, over 600,000 euros have gone to “Give time” in recent years.
The newly created social worker position is part of the psychosocial team at KiTZ, which consists of employees from the fields of psychology, social work, education, sports therapy and music therapy. Head Peggy Lüttich is delighted with the addition to her team: “We would like to thank Team Bensheim - Tour der Hoffnung e.V. for their outstanding commitment to supporting and relieving affected families in their difficult situation.”
About the aid association „Team Bensheim - Tour der Hoffnung e.V.“
The non-profit association “Team Bensheim - Tour der Hoffnung e.V.” was founded in 2008 and goes back to the “Tour der Hoffnung” Giessen.
The aim of the association is to support children and young people with cancer and serious illnesses, their families, as well as organizations and institutions that support this cause. The association is primarily active in southern Hesse and northern Baden by organizing various sporting and cultural events. Every euro should benefit those in need, which is why the association draws its support exclusively from voluntary work and the low administrative costs are covered by membership fees.
www.tdh-bensheim.de
