News | RTL Group | Cologne, 11/22/2021

26th ‘RTL-Spendenmarathon’ Raises €22.4 Million

The 26th “RTL-Spendenmarathon” ended with a new record on Friday evening. Within 24 hours, the telethon had raised €22,448,676 for children in need. Part of the donation sum comes from the fundraising campaigns that RTL Deutschland launched in the summer immediately following the flood disaster.

The 26th “RTL-Spendenmarathon” ended with a new record result. At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the total donations were announced: €22,448,676 for children in need. “We are thrilled with the sensational record result of 22,448,676 euros from the 26th ‘RTL-Spendenmarathon’,” says Stephan Schäfer, Co-CEO RTL Deutschland and Chairman of the Board of the “Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V.” “Our viewers have once again exceeded all expectations with their enormous willingness to give. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this extraordinary amount - whether at home in front of the TV, on location in the studio, during the 24-hour challenge in the broadcasting center, and of course all our partners. How nice to feel so much solidarity and support. It means a lot to all of us in the team.”

Part of the donation sum comes from the fundraising campaigns launched by RTL Deutschland in the summer immediately following the flood disaster in western Germany. These funds were used to carry out numerous emergency aid measures immediately after the storms. Now, the sustainable reconstruction of daycare centers, among others, is also underway in the disaster areas. “Every euro donated by our viewers and partners goes to good use! Our key topics this year are the floods, Covid, help for critically ill children, and rescuing families in Afghanistan from the hunger and cold of the upcoming winter,” said RTL Charity Director Wolfram Kons after more than 24 hours on air. “The fact that this donation will enable us to effectively help so many children really has me overwhelmed. I thank you for every single euro and sincerely hope that all children will soon finally have happier normal lives.” 

‘24h Fitness Challenge’ with Joey Kelly: New world record with 276,822 calories burned

Singer Joey Kelly and the 17 company teams supporting him also delivered a peak performance. Together, all participants in the “24h Fitness Challenge” set a new world record. Instead of the required 200,000, they burned 276,822 calories. This set the world record for the “most calories burned in an equipment quadrathlon (24h, team).” The Record Institute for Germany (RID) monitored this world record attempt and certified it on site with the presentation of record certificates. 

Every cent goes where it’s needed: More than €221 million since 1996

This brings the total raised for children in need in Germany and around the world to more than €221 million since the first “RTL-Spendenmarathon” in 1996. Every cent goes where it’s needed. RTL Deutschland bears all the staff, production, and administration costs associated with the “Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V.” foundation. In this way, the foundation can guarantee that every cent of the donations reaches the children’s aid projects without deductions. Each year, the foundation is audited by the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI), and it receives the coveted DZI donation seal year after year.