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).
With the donation of 50,000 euros, a new research project can start that deals with the investigation of the environment of tumor cells. The cancer cells that give rise to brain tumors can manipulate normal cells in their environment via various signals to support tumor growth. A better understanding of what happens in the tumor environment could help develop better medicines for children with brain tumors, especially if the cancer comes back after initial therapy - because then doctors still have few options to successfully fight the cancer.
With numerous colorful campaigns for families, "A Kiwi against Cancer" rallys every year for children with cancer and for research into childhood cancer. Among other things, the kiwi, the initiative's bright green symbolic figure, goes on a journey. For every euro donated, the Kiwi runs one kilometer further. This year, the running bird once again covered a distance of 25,000 kilometers, from Heidelberg via Austria, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bali, Papua New Guinea to Australia and, last but not least, to New Zealand, the actual home of the kiwi.
"A Kiwi Against Cancer has great supporters and they brought the Kiwi back to its destination," says Tatjana Radetzky, delighted with the 25,000 Euros the Kiwi was able to collect on its journey. As an affected mother, she founded the non-profit organization "A Kiwi against Cancer" in 2018 to fight for better treatment chances for brain tumors in children. "Another 25,000 euros were raised this year through the great campaigns of our donors. Whether that was a big birthday donation, selling things for a good cause or putting up donation cans. Everyone in "Team Kiwi" helps where they can and together we can achieve so much more."
"We would like to express our sincere thanks to "A Kiwi against Cancer" and all its supporters," says Kristian Pajtler, Senior Physician at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), who conducts research with his research group at KiTZ and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) on his therapies for childhood brain tumors. "They all give us a tailwind to ensure that new findings from brain tumor research also benefit children with cancer as quickly as possible."
