27th ‘RTL Spendenmarathon’ Telethon Raises Record Sum
This year's 27th "RTL Spendenmarathon" once again resulted in a record sum of donations totaling €41,107,923 euros. For 24 hours and with celebrity support, the telethon called on viewers to donate for children in need.This total also includes the money from the fundraising campaign RTL Deutschland launched on February 24, the first day of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. As part of the "RTL Spendenmarathon," endurance athlete Joey Kelly and other participants, including Thomas Rabe set a new world record together in the "24h Climbing Challenge".
The finale of the 27th “RTL Spendenmarathon,” the longest charity show on German TV, saw a new record sum of €41,107,923 on the donation counter. For 24 hours and with celebrity support, the telethon raised funds for children in need. “I am very pleased that people’s willingness to give was so great again this year - despite fears of inflation, rising energy costs, and a tough economic environment,” said Thomas Rabe, who since recently is Chairman of the Board of the “Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern” foundation. “We have felt our viewers’ enormous solidarity throughout the year. First with the aid for Ukraine and now with our main focus of support for children in Germany who are threatened with poverty. We make sure that every cent goes where it is needed. For us, helping underserved children and families is a central part of the social responsibility that we at RTL consider to be a matter of course, and which we fulfill on a large scale.”
‘We won’t abandon the children!’
“I am deeply moved by the fact that we have achieved a new record sum in this special year, in this difficult year, with the help of our viewers and our partners,” Wolfram Kons said after more than 24 hours on the air. “This new record sum is a huge sign of trust and represents a great commitment to each and every donor. You didn’t abandon us, and now we won’t abandon the children. From the bottom of our hearts, a very big thank you.”The total donation sum also includes the money from the fundraising campaign that RTL Deutschland launched on February 24, 2022, the first day of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. This already enabled numerous emergency aid measures to be taken for children and families in Ukraine and for refugees immediately following the first acts of war. The comprehensive aid provided to people in Ukraine continues to this day, and will be supplemented in the year ahead by the projects of Wladimir Klitschko and Rea Garvey.
