Florists collect 86,356 euros for better treatment options for children with cancer

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).

„This is such an unbelievably great result!" says actress and voice actress Anja Kling, who has been supporting the work of the Hopp Children's Cancer Center in Heidelberg since 2016. "A very big thank you to all those who let flowers speak here to draw attention to the situation of children with cancer!" A total of 314 florists sold floral creations throughout Germany from April 24 to May 20 to support the work of the KiTZ and advocate for children with cancer and their families.

Now in its third year, the campaign was supported by Fachverband Deutscher Floristen e.V. and Fleurop AG. On the Instagram channels of KiTZ, supporters of the campaign also showed what moves them about the topic and what personal stories are behind their flower gifts #füreineKindheitohneKrebs (#forachildhoodwithoutcancer). Among the prominent faces of the campaign were national soccer player Jonathan Tah and TV presenter Dr. Johannes Wimmer, who are KiTZ ambassadors for children with cancer.

The KiTZ will use the donation amount where there are not yet any established support structures in pediatric oncology. "This is the case, for example, with the clinical development of modern therapies for children with cancer, where academic institutions in Germany must be pioneers," explains Olaf Witt, director at KiTZ, head of the Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and senior physician at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD). "Young cancer patients also have different needs than adults. The donations help us to make care even more family-friendly and child-oriented," says Olaf Witt.

The KiTZ is one of the most important research centers for childhood cancer in Europe, networking pediatric oncology centers internationally and initiating clinical studies to develop new treatment options for childhood cancer. "A very heartfelt thank you to all the florists and all the donors who are thus supporting modern pediatric cancer medicine for children in Europe," says Olaf Witt gratefully.