“50 years ago, German Cancer Aid was founded by the wonderful doctor Mildred Scheel. The organisation is immensely important for oncological developments in Germany”, said Anne-Sophie Mutter, President of German Cancer Aid. “The special concern of German Cancer Aid is to promote cancer research in Germany, because only through new findings from research can cancer be treated better and better.”
“Together, we would therefore like to achieve great things tonight and support the work of German Cancer Aid”, said Johannes B. Kerner in the live programme. The three celebrity quizzers Sebastian Klussmann, Annegret Schenkel and Thorsten Zirkel fought exciting quiz duels with the five celebrity quiz experts Wigald Boning (geography category), Sarah Wiener (nutrition category), Bastian Pastewka (film and television category), Marcel Reif (sport category) and Anna Thalbach (literature and language category). The quiz champion was Thorsten Zirkel, who won 80,000 euros for German Cancer Aid.
Raphael and his family were guests of Johannes B. Kerner. The 12-year-old was diagnosed with lymph node cancer, known as Hodgkin's lymphoma, a year and a half ago. After receiving customised chemotherapy for several months as part of a clinical trial sponsored by German Cancer Aid, Raphael is now doing well again. In addition to school, he enjoys his hobbies of tennis and volleyball.
“A great deal has been achieved in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma in recent decades, so that we are now achieving cure rates of almost 95 per cent”, said Professor Dr Angelika Eggert, Director of the Department of Paediatrics with a focus on oncology and haematology at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. However, we need to do even better, also in order to reduce serious side effects of the therapies. To this end, it is very important to carry out studies, which German Cancer Aid supports on a large scale, says Professor Dr Angelika Eggert.
The diagnosis of lung cancer hit management consultant Stephan Kaiser completely unprepared six years ago. After the tumour was removed, relapses followed. It became clear that his cancer was no longer curable. Then the doctors were able to find out the cause of his lung cancer. It was a specific tumour mutation that favoured the growth of the tumour and could be treated in a targeted manner. Thanks to the national Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer Network, which offers quality-assured molecular diagnostics and personalised treatment recommendations for patients with advanced lung cancer and is funded by German Cancer Aid, patients like Stephan Kaiser can be helped.
“Stephan Kaiser is an example of how the development of new drugs and new diagnostic strategies can enable people to get the disease under control and return to their lives within a short space of time”, said Professor Dr Reinhard Büttner, Director of the Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Anatomy at Cologne University Hospital.
16 hours of quizzes, information and donations for a good cause
Immediately after the broadcast of “The Quiz Champion - The Donation Special”, the “Donation Challenge” continued seamlessly from 11.15 pm, which was broadcast in the ZDF media library and also on linear television from 01:00 am to 05:30 am. Numerous social media stars from platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and Twitch, as well as well-known actors from young ZDF and ZDFmediathek programmes, supported the good cause and competed as quiz candidates. They also published posts and stories about the “Donation Challenge” on their channels throughout the night. In the “Donation Challenge”, German Cancer Aid received 1,000 euros for every duel won by the candidates. A total of 55,000 euros was raised. Many influencers added to the sum raised themselves.
During the night, supporters of German Cancer Aid were live on site or joined in digitally to showcase their commitment and dedication to the charitable organisation.
Johannes B. Kerner announced the total donation sum of over 3.9 million euros at the end of the show live on ZDF-Fernsehgarten. Further donations were made over the course of the Sunday, so that in the end 4.1 million euros were raised. Gerd Nettekoven, Chairman of the Executive Board of German Cancer Aid: “This is a fantastic donation result and I am very grateful that so many people from so many different age groups are supporting people with cancer. My special thanks and respect also go to presenter Johannes B. Kerner and all the celebrity experts who challenged themselves to make the ‘Donation Special’ and the ‘Donation Challenge’ possible.” He also thanked ZDF for its many years of cooperation. In the anniversary year of German Cancer Aid, ZDF has also made it clear that it stands by the side of people with cancer.
Anyone who missed the special TV format can watch all of the programmes that were broadcast on linear television afterwards in the ZDF media library.
Donations can still be made online at www.krebshilfe.de/quiz-champion/. The Deutsche Krebshilfe donation account is: IBAN: DE65 3705 0299 0000 9191 91, BIC: COKSDE 33XXX (Kreissparkasse Köln).