Numerous Donations Thanks to Voluntary Helpers
DAHW is Unimaginable without Voluntary Helpers
We are encouraged with our voluntary positions for 2005: Considerably more than 2,000 voluntary helpers who are organised in more than 250 campaign groups, were involved with a wide range of activities for DAHW. Imaginative and varied campaigns contributed to almost 20 percent of the total donations through voluntary efforts.
A highlight centred on the pen campaign that was held for World Leprosy Day, which had the participation of DAHW groups countrywide. In Kleve, Münster, Würzburg, Stralsund and other towns, voluntary groups sold pens for the benefit of people suffering from Leprosy. The campaign also had a symbolic meaning: pens are often used to test whether patients have Leprosy - that is to say whether the bacteria have already destroyed nerves which control the sense of touch.
With this and similar fundraising campaigns, and the selling of flowers and organising church services for World Leprosy Day, substantial funds were raised and an increased public awareness for the work of DAHW.
Now known as the people‘s run: the Memorial Run in Würzburg. Photo: DAHW
Several groups also supported the DAHW donation advertising for the tsunami victims in DAHW projects in India – for example Aktionsgemeinschaft Kreis Kleve who appealed for donation campaigns together with the „Lower Rhine Nachrichten“ newspaper. Schoolchildren from the Gymnasium Geldern and the Realschule Kleve-Kallen were just as involved in the proceeds of a total of 15,000 Euro as the entire staff of the newspaper which they raised with the proceeds of their Christmas tombola.
Two volunteers from Kreis Kleve and a „Lower Rhine Nachrichten“ journalist visited DAHW projects in India at their own expense so as to be able to report first-hand about relief measures.
Several hundred cyclist friends pedalled enthusiastically for a good cause at the „Pedals“ campaigns in Balingen, Kiel, Krefeld-Viersen, Osnabrück-Münster and Dortmund, driving five-digit proceeds together for their partnership projects: they organised a per kilometre sponsorship.
Traditional Leprosy March in Dinslaken. Photo: DAHW
Collecting donations at the Nürburgring
Without bicycles but on Shanks‘s pony - both the young and the old on the memorial run in Würzburg, the 25th Leprosy March in Dinslaken (Lower Rhine) and the walking campaign from the Konrad Adenauer School in Wenden (Sauerland) went out and about for this good cause. These concerted efforts resulted in six-figure funds for the DAHW project work.
Fundraising campaigns – such as the Grand Prix Race at the Nürburgring, continued for the 35th time in 2005 organised by the Benedictines from Maria Laach, and on Lake Constance ferries or collections made by altar boys during their traditional rattle walk through Wegeringhausen (Sauerland) in the Holy Week – serve here as examples for several others.
The high season for DAHW groups was the advent period. At more than 100 bazaars throughout Germany, many people came together in order to support the DAHW‘s work with their donations. Fruit of the several hours provided for by voluntary commitments - on top of the profits raised - was the high level of attention raised during the campaigns, created both by onlookers and reports in the press. They contribute successfully to increasing the recognition of DAHW and increasing the willingness to make donations.
Contact for voluntary workers and interested persons:
DAHW Münster, Tel: +49 (0) 251/ 1365-311 or -313,
DAHW Würzburg, Tel: +49 (0) 931/ 7948-235 or -131.
