With team spirit against cancer: Rowing against cancer charity regatta on September 13 in Heidelberg
On Saturday, September 13, the time has come again: from 9 a.m., the first races of the charity regatta Rowing against Cancer will take place on the Neckar in Heidelberg - a joint initiative of the Foundation Living with Cancer, the Heidelberg Rowing Society 1898 e.V. (RGH) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg. For the 14th time, sports enthusiasts, patients and supporters will come together on the river and the Neckarwiese to support a good cause. The proceeds from the event go to the Exercise and Cancer Patient Program at the NCT Heidelberg.
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD), the Heidelberg Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg.
Rowing against cancer combines sporting togetherness, the joy of exercise and solidarity for better care for cancer patients. People with and without rowing experience - including patients, relatives, medical and nursing staff - compete together.
The sporting focus is on the races in the gig double fours. The start is below the Theodor Heuss Bridge, from where the boats travel around 300 meters downstream to the finish line at the Neckarwiese. The winning teams in the preliminary heats secure a place in the final, while hope heats in the afternoon offer the remaining teams the chance to progress. Experienced helmsmen from the RGH will accompany each boat to ensure a safe and straight course. Once again this year, young rowing teams from ActiveOncoKids will be taking part in the charity regatta.
In addition to the sporting competitions, a colorful supporting program awaits visitors in the regatta village on the Neckarwiese. Information stands, hands-on activities for young and old as well as music and dance performances will ensure a varied day for the whole family. Guests can also look forward to sports celebrities from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar team: para-judoka Lennart Sass and swimmer Josha Salchow will be interviewed on stage about their sporting careers and will then take time for personal discussions.
Numerous self-help groups, the OnkoAktiv network and many other partners from the health sector will also be represented. The event is supported by the long-standing patrons Manfred Lautenschläger, founder and Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of MLP SE, and Heidelberg's Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner.
Thomas Bellut, Chairman of the Board of the Living with Cancer Foundation, says: "Rowing against Cancer combines sporting commitment with a clear goal: to raise funds to strengthen exercise as an integral part of cancer treatment. The regatta makes it possible to experience what a joint effort can achieve - for a better quality of life in a challenging phase of life."
In the meantime, Rowing Against Cancer has developed into a special event where people come together to set an example for exercise as part of cancer treatment. At the same time, the contribution that donations make to establishing specialized exercise programs such as the one at the NCT Heidelberg in the long term becomes clear.
Dirk Jäger, Managing Director at the NCT Heidelberg and Head of Medical Oncology at Heidelberg University Hospital, says: "Exercise has long been more than just a supplementary offer in cancer treatment - it is a therapeutic component with measurable benefits. The regatta helps us to further promote this approach and provide patients with concrete support in getting and staying healthy."
Facts and figures
Rowing against cancer: 14th charity regatta on the Neckar in Heidelberg
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
- from 8 am start number distribution
- from 9 am race
Organizer: Foundation Living with Cancer
Coordinator: National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Organizer: Rowing Society Heidelberg 1898 e.V. (RGH)
Contact: Sönke Hartung-Rey, Tel.: 06221-3219246, s.hartung-rey(at)rgh-heidelberg.de
Venue: Neckar and Neckarwiese, Neuenheim, Heidelberg
Race course: 300 meters
Boat class: Gig double four with helmsmen
Participants/teams: Various classes for women, men and mixed, patients, participants with rowing experience
Competition format: preliminary and hopeful heats, final
Participants in the accompanying program and in the regatta village
Patient advisory board, patient research council and pilot service of the NCT Heidelberg
Cancer self-help groups:
- Head and neck tumors (KHT)
- Mamazone - Women and Research against Breast Cancer e.V./Regional Group Heidelberg-Mannheim
- Melanoma Info Germany
- Women's cancer self-help
Information stands
- Network OnkoAktiv
- Foundation Living with Cancer
- Cancer Information Service of the DKFZ
- North Baden Cancer Counseling Center
- Heidelberg Stem Cell Registry, HSR
- NAOK - ActiveOncoKids network
- Yoga and cancer
- TSG Hoffenheim
- Center for Active Prevention, ZAP
- A kiwi against cancer
- Techniker Krankenkasse
- Princely Castell'sche Bank
Hands-on activities
- Bouncy castle
- Face painting for children
- Painting for children
- Reaction games
- rowing ergometer
- Zumba
- Soccer parkour
Stage program with, among others
- Children's and youth dance Schriesheim
- Nuzinger dance school ZUMBA
- Interview with para-judoka Lennart Sass and swimmer Josha Salchow, athletes from Team Los Angeles Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar and running world champion Miriam Paurat
A picture for the press release is available free of charge at:
Terms of use for images accompanying press releases
Use is free of charge. The NCT Heidelberg permits one-time use in connection with reporting on the subject of the press release. Please credit the copyright “NCT Heidelberg”. The image material may only be passed on to third parties after prior consultation with NCT Communications (Tel.: +49 6221 42-1755, E-Mail: martin.staiger@nct-heidelberg.de). Use for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Contact for the press:
Dr. Martin Staiger
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Communication and Events
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 56-311272
E-mail: martin.staiger(at)nct-heidelberg.de
www.nct-heidelberg.de
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD), the Heidelberg Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg. The aim of the NCT Heidelberg is to transfer promising approaches from cancer research into clinical practice as quickly as possible, and thus to benefit patients. This applies to both diagnosis and treatment, in aftercare or prevention. Participation in clinical studies opens up access to innovative therapies. The NCT Heidelberg is thus a leader in transferring new research results from the laboratory to the clinic The NCT Heidelberg, founded in 2004, is part of the NCT with further locations in Berlin, Dresden, SouthWest (Tübingen-Stuttgart/Ulm), WERA (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg) and West (Essen/Cologne).
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
With more than 3,000 employees, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute. DKFZ scientists identify cancer risk factors, investigate how cancer progresses and develop new cancer prevention strategies. They are also developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to questions relating to cancer.
To transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the prognosis of cancer patients, the DKFZ cooperates with excellent research institutions and university hospitals throughout Germany:
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT, 6 sites)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, 8 sites)
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg
- Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (HI-TRON Mainz) - A Helmholtz Institute of the DKFZ
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim
- National Cancer Prevention Center (jointly with German Cancer Aid)
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.
Heidelberg University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine: Internationally Renowned Patient Care, Research and Teaching
Heidelberg University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, UKHD) is one of the largest and most prestigious medical centers in Germany. The Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University (Medizinische Fakultät Heidelberg, MFHD) belongs to the internationally renowned biomedical research institutions in Europe. Both institutions have the common goal of developing new therapies and implementing them rapidly for patients. Heidelberg University Hospital and the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University employs around 14.500 employees and is committed to providing trainings and qualifications. Every year, around 86,000 patients and more than 1.100.000 outpatient cases are treated in more than 50 clinical departments with almost 2.500 beds.
Together with the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the German Cancer Aid, the UKHD established the first National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg. The goal is to provide care at the highest level as an oncology center of excellence and to rapidly transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the hospital. In addition, the UKHD operates in partnership with the DKFZ and the University of Heidelberg the Hopp Children’s Cancer center Heidelberg (KiTZ), a unique and nationally known therapy and research center for oncological and hematological diseases in children and adolescents.
The Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale (HeiCuMed) is one of the top medical training programs in Germany. Currently, there are about 4.000 future physicians studying in Heidelberg.
With team spirit against cancer: Rowing against cancer charity regatta on September 13 in Heidelberg
On Saturday, September 13, the time has come again: from 9 a.m., the first races of the charity regatta Rowing against Cancer will take place on the Neckar in Heidelberg - a joint initiative of the Foundation Living with Cancer, the Heidelberg Rowing Society 1898 e.V. (RGH) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg. For the 14th time, sports enthusiasts, patients and supporters will come together on the river and the Neckarwiese to support a good cause. The proceeds from the event go to the Exercise and Cancer Patient Program at the NCT Heidelberg.
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD), the Heidelberg Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg.
Rowing against cancer combines sporting togetherness, the joy of exercise and solidarity for better care for cancer patients. People with and without rowing experience - including patients, relatives, medical and nursing staff - compete together.
The sporting focus is on the races in the gig double fours. The start is below the Theodor Heuss Bridge, from where the boats travel around 300 meters downstream to the finish line at the Neckarwiese. The winning teams in the preliminary heats secure a place in the final, while hope heats in the afternoon offer the remaining teams the chance to progress. Experienced helmsmen from the RGH will accompany each boat to ensure a safe and straight course. Once again this year, young rowing teams from ActiveOncoKids will be taking part in the charity regatta.
In addition to the sporting competitions, a colorful supporting program awaits visitors in the regatta village on the Neckarwiese. Information stands, hands-on activities for young and old as well as music and dance performances will ensure a varied day for the whole family. Guests can also look forward to sports celebrities from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar team: para-judoka Lennart Sass and swimmer Josha Salchow will be interviewed on stage about their sporting careers and will then take time for personal discussions.
Numerous self-help groups, the OnkoAktiv network and many other partners from the health sector will also be represented. The event is supported by the long-standing patrons Manfred Lautenschläger, founder and Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of MLP SE, and Heidelberg's Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner.
Thomas Bellut, Chairman of the Board of the Living with Cancer Foundation, says: "Rowing against Cancer combines sporting commitment with a clear goal: to raise funds to strengthen exercise as an integral part of cancer treatment. The regatta makes it possible to experience what a joint effort can achieve - for a better quality of life in a challenging phase of life."
In the meantime, Rowing Against Cancer has developed into a special event where people come together to set an example for exercise as part of cancer treatment. At the same time, the contribution that donations make to establishing specialized exercise programs such as the one at the NCT Heidelberg in the long term becomes clear.
Dirk Jäger, Managing Director at the NCT Heidelberg and Head of Medical Oncology at Heidelberg University Hospital, says: "Exercise has long been more than just a supplementary offer in cancer treatment - it is a therapeutic component with measurable benefits. The regatta helps us to further promote this approach and provide patients with concrete support in getting and staying healthy."
Facts and figures
Rowing against cancer: 14th charity regatta on the Neckar in Heidelberg
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
- from 8 am start number distribution
- from 9 am race
Organizer: Foundation Living with Cancer
Coordinator: National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Organizer: Rowing Society Heidelberg 1898 e.V. (RGH)
Contact: Sönke Hartung-Rey, Tel.: 06221-3219246, s.hartung-rey(at)rgh-heidelberg.de
Venue: Neckar and Neckarwiese, Neuenheim, Heidelberg
Race course: 300 meters
Boat class: Gig double four with helmsmen
Participants/teams: Various classes for women, men and mixed, patients, participants with rowing experience
Competition format: preliminary and hopeful heats, final
Participants in the accompanying program and in the regatta village
Patient advisory board, patient research council and pilot service of the NCT Heidelberg
Cancer self-help groups:
- Head and neck tumors (KHT)
- Mamazone - Women and Research against Breast Cancer e.V./Regional Group Heidelberg-Mannheim
- Melanoma Info Germany
- Women's cancer self-help
Information stands
- Network OnkoAktiv
- Foundation Living with Cancer
- Cancer Information Service of the DKFZ
- North Baden Cancer Counseling Center
- Heidelberg Stem Cell Registry, HSR
- NAOK - ActiveOncoKids network
- Yoga and cancer
- TSG Hoffenheim
- Center for Active Prevention, ZAP
- A kiwi against cancer
- Techniker Krankenkasse
- Princely Castell'sche Bank
Hands-on activities
- Bouncy castle
- Face painting for children
- Painting for children
- Reaction games
- rowing ergometer
- Zumba
- Soccer parkour
Stage program with, among others
- Children's and youth dance Schriesheim
- Nuzinger dance school ZUMBA
- Interview with para-judoka Lennart Sass and swimmer Josha Salchow, athletes from Team Los Angeles Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar and running world champion Miriam Paurat
A picture for the press release is available free of charge at:
Terms of use for images accompanying press releases
Use is free of charge. The NCT Heidelberg permits one-time use in connection with reporting on the subject of the press release. Please credit the copyright “NCT Heidelberg”. The image material may only be passed on to third parties after prior consultation with NCT Communications (Tel.: +49 6221 42-1755, E-Mail: martin.staiger@nct-heidelberg.de). Use for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Contact for the press:
Dr. Martin Staiger
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Communication and Events
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 56-311272
E-mail: martin.staiger(at)nct-heidelberg.de
www.nct-heidelberg.de
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD), the Heidelberg Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg. The aim of the NCT Heidelberg is to transfer promising approaches from cancer research into clinical practice as quickly as possible, and thus to benefit patients. This applies to both diagnosis and treatment, in aftercare or prevention. Participation in clinical studies opens up access to innovative therapies. The NCT Heidelberg is thus a leader in transferring new research results from the laboratory to the clinic The NCT Heidelberg, founded in 2004, is part of the NCT with further locations in Berlin, Dresden, SouthWest (Tübingen-Stuttgart/Ulm), WERA (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg) and West (Essen/Cologne).
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
With more than 3,000 employees, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute. DKFZ scientists identify cancer risk factors, investigate how cancer progresses and develop new cancer prevention strategies. They are also developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to questions relating to cancer.
To transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the prognosis of cancer patients, the DKFZ cooperates with excellent research institutions and university hospitals throughout Germany:
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT, 6 sites)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, 8 sites)
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg
- Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (HI-TRON Mainz) - A Helmholtz Institute of the DKFZ
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim
- National Cancer Prevention Center (jointly with German Cancer Aid)
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.
Heidelberg University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine: Internationally Renowned Patient Care, Research and Teaching
Heidelberg University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, UKHD) is one of the largest and most prestigious medical centers in Germany. The Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University (Medizinische Fakultät Heidelberg, MFHD) belongs to the internationally renowned biomedical research institutions in Europe. Both institutions have the common goal of developing new therapies and implementing them rapidly for patients. Heidelberg University Hospital and the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University employs around 14.500 employees and is committed to providing trainings and qualifications. Every year, around 86,000 patients and more than 1.100.000 outpatient cases are treated in more than 50 clinical departments with almost 2.500 beds.
Together with the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the German Cancer Aid, the UKHD established the first National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg. The goal is to provide care at the highest level as an oncology center of excellence and to rapidly transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the hospital. In addition, the UKHD operates in partnership with the DKFZ and the University of Heidelberg the Hopp Children’s Cancer center Heidelberg (KiTZ), a unique and nationally known therapy and research center for oncological and hematological diseases in children and adolescents.
The Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale (HeiCuMed) is one of the top medical training programs in Germany. Currently, there are about 4.000 future physicians studying in Heidelberg.