The foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary with its donors
30 years of the foundation’s history – that calls for a celebration and the foundation invited its donors to a ceremony at the IHK Frankfurt. Under the patronage of Frankfurt’s Lord Mayor Mike Josef and the host of the IHK, Managing Director Mr Matthias Gräßle, over 150 guests came together.
On what was probably the hottest day of August, they were able to cool off in the air-conditioned rooms of the IHK and listen to a variety of interesting formats. “The Coming Wave” was the title of an exciting keynote speech by guest speaker Prof Friedhelm Beyersdorf from the University of Freiburg, who took the audience on a journey into the future of research. Comedian Tino Bomelino proved that complex science can also be explained in a simple and amusing way. In an entertaining panel discussion, Prof Dirk Heckl and Prof Martin Michaelis answered questions about cancer that the audience were able to ask themselves and presented the work of their research groups for the foundation. After an emotional speech by Lord Mayor Mike Josef, Tanja Eichinger, State Secretary of the Hessian Ministry of Justice, presented the ‘Dr Maresch Klingelhöffer Prize’ to paediatrician and scientist Dr Dominik Sturm from the Hopp Children’s Tumour Centre Heidelberg (KiTZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD). He was honoured for his outstanding work on the application of an AI-based diagnostic procedure for brain tumours in children and adolescents. At a subsequent get-together, the participants were able to round off the evening with delicacies from the caterer Maingau and the Oliviero Bar School with cocktails in the Foundation’s colours.
On the sidelines of the event, a forward-looking handshake was made between the CEO of Mainova, Dr Michael Maxelon, and the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr Jürgen Vogt: Mainova pledged to continue its financial contribution to the Foundation for the next three years, which is an essential pillar for the pioneering research taking place here.
We would like to thank all our supporters and visitors to the evening. And we promise to continue our research for the benefit of our children and young people for the next 30 years.
Photos: Lisa Farkas
