The organizers of the Lions Club Holzminden faced new challenges, but the mega event was able to take place as usual in October 2021 and was a complete success. 12,000 euros came together and were donated for our vision of defeating blood cancer. For this we would like to thank everyone involved.
The benefit bike tour event “Around the Solling” was first brought to life in 2009 by Armin Radtke together with colleagues from the Boffzen volunteer fire brigade. The trigger at the time was a leukemia disease in his family. The Lions Club Holzminden has been providing organizational support for the trip since 2015. The help of many volunteers such as the DDMC Solling cycling club, the Holzminden district sports association, the Holzminden police, the THW Höxter and Holzminden, the Johanniter Unfallhilfe Holzminden and of course the Boffzen volunteer fire brigade keeps the campaign alive. The 12th edition of the mega event took place on October 3, 2021 with 100 participants under strict protective measures – with great success.
For the Lions Club Holzminden, however, this is more than just another success in the club’s history. After the event might not take place in 2020 due to the pandemic, the disappointment was great. It was actually planned for 2020 to break the mark of a total of 100,000 euros in donations. Of course, despite the cancellation of the bike tour, donations for the DKMS were called for. Unfortunately, this goal might not be achieved and the feeling of doing something good as a community was missing. What was not lacking: passion and enormous commitment to help patients.
Now “Rund um den Solling” is back and shows impressively: “You can rely on the Lions”, as Carl Otto Künnecke, President of the Lions Club Holzminden, proudly announces. The motivation within the club is unbroken and this is also confirmed in the numbers. Since 2012, a total of 104,060 euros in donations has been collected for the DKMS. “For us, a small dream has come true, we have exceeded the magic limit of 100,000 euros in donations for the DKMS,” says Künnecke regarding the milestone that has been reached.
“We had to make some compromises because of Corona, but the success proves us right: The cyclists from the region are behind our event,” says Joachim Ruthe from the organization team. His thanks go to all those involved and volunteers, without whom the event might not run so smoothly and whose support has been relied on for years.
The popular and well-established charity bike tour will take place once more this year, and preparations for the upcoming event are already underway. For Ruthe it is clear that this milestone should not be the end: “So if you want to support the DKMS on your bike for the 13th edition, you should mark Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 in your calendar. when it says once more: ‘Around the Solling’.”
