Olympic champion endorses Mainz regatta "Rowing against cancer" charitable event
Mainz Charity Regatta to Support Cancer Patients
The Mainz charity regatta, "Rowing Against Cancer," is set to take place on August 24, 2025, on the Rhine in Mainz, Germany. This event is part of a nationwide action celebrating its 20th anniversary, aiming to raise funds and awareness for cancer-related causes.
The regatta will feature teams rowing in quadruple sculls with a cox on a 350-meter course. Many teams are expected to participate, including those from companies, clinics, and clubs. The local organizer of the event is the Mainzer Ruder-Verein 1878 e.V.
The "Rowing Against Cancer" concept is part of broader initiatives to support cancer patients and research, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in health care. The proceeds from entry fees, sponsorships, and donations will benefit sports and movement projects for cancer patients in Mainz and the surrounding area.
Oliver Zeidler, a three-time World Rowing Champion and Paris Olympics gold medalist, supports the charity regatta and will be present as an ambassador and patron, despite his preparations for the World Championships in Shanghai. Zeidler believes that rowing is particularly suitable in the fight against cancer.
The aim of the charity regatta is to enable medically supervised sports and movement therapies for cancer patients. Thomas Bellut, chairman of the Life with Cancer Foundation, explains that the goal of the regatta is to strengthen the courage to live in oncological patients through movement. The regatta in Mainz is organized in cooperation with the University Center for Tumor Diseases at the University Medical Center Mainz and the Mainz Children's Cancer Foundation.
The "Rowing Against Cancer" event in Mainz is not directly related to the ongoing "Rowing Against Cancer" initiative by the Living with Cancer Foundation in Germany, which has been ongoing for 20 years. This event involves teams participating in a long-distance rowing challenge across different locations in Germany, with teams from various organizations and backgrounds participating to raise awareness and support for cancer-related causes.
These events, including the Mainz charity regatta, typically involve a mass participation where teams from different backgrounds come together to row over long distances, divided into sections. They often receive local support and are organized to raise funds and awareness for cancer-related causes. By engaging in such collective efforts, these events help foster a sense of community and solidarity among participants and the public, while also contributing to cancer care and treatment.
Over 130 regattas have been held in 24 cities as part of the nationwide action celebrating its 20th anniversary since 2005. More than 30,000 people have participated in these regattas, demonstrating the widespread support for these initiatives.
[1] Information sourced from various news articles and official websites.
Sports and movement projects, such as the "Rowing Against Cancer" event in Mainz, contribute to health-and-wellness initiatives for cancer patients by providing medically supervised sports and movement therapies. Additionally, mental-health benefits can stem from community involvement and the camaraderie fostered by such sports events, which aim to strengthen the courage of oncological patients and support broader cancer research.
