Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), and Heidelberg University (Uni HD).
"I am very happy for the young cancer patients about this great donation success! A big thank you to everyone who participated, helping the KiTZ develop better treatment options for children with cancer," says actress Anja Kling, who has been supporting the work of the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) since 2016. "I hope that together we will make quite a difference here."
With its fundraising campaign "Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden." ("Give flowers. Offer hope."), the KiTZ, together with all participating florists, have used flowers as a tool to draw attention to the situation of children with cancer. More than 260 florists across Germany sold floral creations from May 11 to June 1 to support the work of KiTZ and advocate for children with cancer and their families.
On KiTZ's Instagram channels, florists and supporters of the campaign also showed what moves them about the issue and the personal stories behind their flower gifts #forachildhoodwithoutcancer. Among the well-known supporters of the campaign were national soccer player Jonathan Tah and TV doctor and presenter Dr. Johannes Wimmer, who are KiTZ ambassadors for children with cancer.
This year, the donations will go to an international research fund that KiTZ established in 2021 together with the Prinses Máxima Centrum in Utrecht in order to develop therapies with fewer side effects and specifically tailored to children. The research fund aims to create better framework conditions for European pediatric oncology as quickly as possible, so that young patients across Europe can benefit from modern therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
"So many people from all over Germany have contributed to the campaign to improve treatment options for children with cancer," said a delighted Stefan Pfister, Director at KiTZ, Department Head of DKFZ and Pediatric Oncology at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD). "We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all florists, flower buyers, our ambassadors, and everyone who supports modern pediatric cancer medicine for children in Europe with this campaign!" says Stefan Pfister on behalf of the KiTZ Directorate.
The campaign "Give flowers. Offer hope." was again supported this year by Fleurop AG and the German Florists Association (FDF) with their network of partner florists.
Further information on the campaign (in German) „Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden.“
The campaign on Instagram: @blumenschenken.hoffnungspenden and @kitz_hd
Further information on KiTZ- Prinses Máxima Centrum Research Fund
