Sum will be divided among three charity organisations / “Aufwind Mannheim” gets the main share / Other two winners are Play Handball and Right to Play/ Support from Rhein-Neckar Löwen, fans and team partner Suzuki

Around 30,000 euros: This is the amount that the joint donation campaign by Rhein-Neckar Löwen and Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz brought in. The former Leuven star, who moved to Paris St. Germain on 1 July 2018, had declared during his comeback in the jersey of the DHB Cup winner that he wanted to donate the three monthly salaries he would receive as a result of his return to good causes.

To support this, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen contributed with a special T-Shirt sale and the profit went one-to-one into the donation pot. The handball fans of the region were also called upon to make donations, including team partner Suzuki who helped with a single donation of around 1300 Euros. Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz asked the general public to decide where the money would go. In a Facebook survey, the handball community selected the organisations Aufwind Mannheim, Play Handball and Right to Play as the winners. The winner of the vote, Aufwind Mannheim, received a monthly salary of Kim as well as the profit of the T-shirt sales and Suzuki donation. The remaining two monthly salaries go to Play Handball and Right to Play.

“In the name of the Aufwind children and the entire team, I would like to thank the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, especially Mr. Ekdahl Du Rietz and all those who made this absolutely overwhelming fundraising campaign possible for us, from the bottom of my heart,” says Patrick Pietsch. Pietsch is the group leader for Aufwind, an aid organization that cares for children living in poverty in Mannheim. “The whole thing is incomprehensible”, especially since he was first made aware of it by volunteers. “They told me about the vote and that we are right in front. The fact that we won with the votes of the handball fans makes it all the more beautiful. That’s simply brilliant,” says Patrick Pietsch. Because Aufwind Mannheim is financed purely by donations, they are always dependent on outside help – and are all the more pleased about the commitment of the lions, Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz and the handball fans.

“We were delighted to follow the fundraising campaign and are extremely happy about the support,” says Nicola Scholl from Play Handball. The youth development organisation, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged children and young people in Africa with handball, responded enthusiastically to Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz’s donation. “A big thank you goes to Kim and everyone who voted for us. We already have some concrete ideas on how we will use the money and will keep you updated”. Sven Schröder, Managing Director of Right to Play, says similarly: “A great action! We are really excited about Kim’s commitment and are delighted that so many people voted for us. Sport can make an enormous difference for children all over the world. It’s great to see athletes as successful as Kim are aware of this power and are actively involved in helping children in disadvantaged regions around the world”. Right to Play is active around the globe with almost 15,000 volunteers, reaching around one million children.

While Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz is currently organising his move from the Rhine and Neckar rivers to the French metropolis on the Seine, the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen are planning a meeting with representatives of the three organisations after the summer break. This will possibly take place this year as part of a home game of the lions in the SAP Arena.

Source: Löwen-News

More in this category: Adopt-A-Club launches fundraising campaign for the Bo-Kaap Handball Club » Start of Handball and Volunteer Season » Friendly Tournament at the Observatory Junior School » Martin Bergers handball experience in Africa » Linah tells about her experiences as a participant of the Trilateral Youth Coaches Encounter » Christian tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Lamberts Bay » Lisza reports from her experiences as a volunteer in Cape Town » Mid-term seminar with our weltwaerts-volunteers » Lars tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Darling » Kick-off-Weekend of the Trilateral Youth Coaches Exchange » Re-launch of the Weltwärts Volunteer Program in Kenya and South Africa. » Two new partnerships » Dancing for the good cause – #NightOfHandball » Community Talk with Louise Barends from Darling Outreach Foundation in South Africa » End of Year Message from our Founder Nicola » Play Handball Corona Aid helps over 1000 people in South Africa and Kenya. » Update PHKE: In every challenge there is always something we can do as a sport for development organisation » “Wild Boys” goes “Play Handball” » Midterm-Seminar and Partner Meeting » Take action for the future – the 4th SuperCup in Cape Town inspires 150 kids to take action for climate change » Hanna reports from her experiences in 2 different communities around Cape Town » Press Release – Play Handball SuperCup 2019 in Cape Town » Laura tells of her experiences as a volunteer in Cape Town » The International Handball Federation (IHF) draws attention to PLAY HANDBALL » From Blomberg to the Cape – As volunteer coaches in South Africa » Meet The Volunteer: Sophia experiences township life in Jo’burg » “I am, You are, We are South Africa!” – Ubomi Children Camp July 2019 » Interview with our Swiss volunteer Daniel Schettler » Handball is an universal language – Play Handball at Karookop Primary School » Interview with Thabang from Franschhoek Community Sport Centre » Supercup inspires over 450 children in Africa » With Handball active for a climate change – Play Handball Supercup 2018 in Delft, Cape Town » Play Handball Supercup 2018 in Benoni » Super handball action at the Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton » Interview with the volunteer Matti Schubert » Learners embrace new sport » Handball is a new sport in the farming area of Piketberg » First ever PLAY HANDBALL Junior Cup in Stellenbosch » VOLUNTEER INTERVIEW with SIMON UTTKE » Get your own Calendar of “Memories of Joy and Unity with Handball” for your donation of 25€ and more » Conclusion ‘Play Handball’ 2017 » Using Sport to raise awareness for Climate Change! » Interview with Michael Haaß (HC Erlangen, World Champion 2007) – “Handball and Sport in general open doors for your life.” » The 1st climate-neutral handball tournament series in South Africa » PLAY HANDBALL SuperCup on the 29th of October 2016, in Johannesburg and on the 19th of November in Cape Town, » PLAY HANDBALL SuperCup on the 24th of April 2016 at the German International School in Tamboerskloof, Cape Town. » STREET UP YOUR HANDBALL – Developing communities around South Africa with and through handball » SolarWorld powers Handball in South Africa » THE START OF A NEW HANDBALL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM » GIRLS HANDBALL DAY – TRAIN WITH THE PROS PROMOTING fun, health, passion and multi-cultural cohesion » Halftime for the handball development project of the German Olympic Sports Confederation in partnership with the South African Handball Federation in the Western Cape » Partnership for handball development between Germany and South Africa: Short-term handball development project financed by means of German Federal Foreign Office »
Previous Post Interview with the volunteer Matti Schubert
Next Post Handball for UNSDG13 Climate Action - Workshop & Clean-Up

Leave a Reply