Swing and hits for a good cause - this was the motto of the Bundeswehr Big Band's concert at the State Garden Show on 10 July. Stadtwerke Gießen collected donations for the Tour of Hope in front of the stage throughout the day. The cheque was handed over on Friday.
The charity concert by the Big Band of the German Armed Forces attracted around 2000 visitors to the Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) stage on the State Garden Show grounds on 10 July. In mixed weather and cool temperatures, the musicians in uniform fired up the audience and encouraged them to make a contribution to a good cause. At their stand near the stage, members of the Tour der Hoffnung family collected donations throughout the day - and did so extremely successfully. Concertgoers and visitors to the State Garden Show supported the Tour of Hope with a total of 5,200 euros.
"We are delighted that so many people took part in the charity tour," explained SWG board member Manfred Siekmann. His fellow board member Reinhard Paul added: "As a long-standing partner of the tour, we would like to make a further contribution and are rounding up the donation amount to 10,000 euros."
Long-standing partners for a good cause
Manfred Siekmann and Reinhard Paul presented the cheque together with SWG company spokeswoman Ina Weller and Thomas Wagner, Head of Sales Industrial and Business Customers at SWG, on Friday, 18 July. In addition to the two tour organisers Gerhard Becker and Volker Klein, Karsten Koch, co-organiser of the concert, was also present at the handover in the SWG main building.
After the handover, Gerhard Becker referred to the close partnership that has existed for many years: "Stadtwerke has been involved in the Tour of Hope since 1995 and helps us with the organisation and fundraising. A great collaboration in favour of our mission - the fight against cancer."
"Without such helpers and all the prominent participants, the success of the past 30 years would not have been possible. We therefore look forward to welcoming everyone who takes part in the tour or makes a donation in 2014," added Volker Klein.
Karsten Koch promoted the upcoming tour at the cheque presentation: "On 6 August, numerous celebrities and amateur cyclists will once again start here in Giessen. We hope that they will successfully complete the route again in the 31st year and encourage people to make a contribution to the charity tour - just like the Big Band of the German Armed Forces at the concert at the State Garden Show and the Giessen public utility company."