"The Hamburg Goldkehlchen" donate 50,000 Euros for research into ME/CFS

The "Hamburg Goldkehlchen" and over 5,000 of their fans sang for ME/CFS research at yesterday's sold-out summer concert in Hamburg's Stadtpark. The donations from the fans and the highly committed choir went to the ME/CFS Research Foundation..

Both concerts in Hamburg's Stadtpark were sold out within minutes. On Hamburg's most beautiful open-air meadow, the 70-voice male choir impressed its fans with a rousing concert on Saturday. In addition to many musical highlights, Die Hamburger Goldkehlchen once again demonstrated their social commitment and their fans joined in. At the end of the evening, Ingo Zamperoni presented a cheque for 50,000 euros to the ME/CFS Research Foundation.

Goldkehlchen Seppo (Sebastian Orthmann) and Jörg Heydecke (founder of the ME/CFS Research Foundation) are affected: Both have a family member who is seriously ill with ME/CFS or Long Covid. In a Video on Instagram before the concert, they both called for donations and explained their commitment. Choir member Sebastian Orthmann initiated the concert campaign: "We need many more research initiatives for this cruel disease so that ME/CFS can be diagnosed and treated. And we hope that our concert will raise awareness for all those affected.„

The Hamburg Goldkehlchen (DHG) made a recording of the concert available on YouTube . The handover of the donation cheque by Ingo Zamperoni (presenter of the news format "ARD Tagesthemen") and the founders of the Goldkehlchen Flemming Pinck and Max Michel (from 2:31:45 in the video) is one of the many highlights of the evening for the fans and, of course, the ME/CFS Research Foundation. Even after the concert, fans continued to support via the DHG concert donation link .

Sebastian Orthmann explained to the fans what a big problem ME/CFS and Long Covid is for all those affected. Jörg Heydecke thanked the Hamburg Goldkehlchen and their fans on behalf of the ME/CFS Research Foundation and the more than 500,000 ME/CFS sufferers for their great support (to our Instagram post).

The concert and the purpose of the donation generated a very positive response on social media and in the press:

• Article in the newspaper Hamburger Morgenpost (Link to MOPO.de) about the donation pledge before the concert
• TV report on the concert in the NDR Hamburg Journal from 14.7.2024 (NDR.de Link and Instagram link)
• (further articles will be added after publication)

We would like to thank everyone who made this wonderful evening possible!

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How can you support the work of the ME/CFS Research Foundation?

There is still a long way to go before diagnosis, care and treatment of ME/CFS patients will one day become a medical and social standard. We at the ME/CFS Research Foundation are focussing on biomedical research, which we see as the key element in solving these problems (more on this in our research funding strategy and in our half year report summer 2024, which summarises our activities). To do this, we need extensive support from private donors – those affected, relatives, families, friends, associations, schools, networks, companies, initiatives, event organisers and all supporters. And if you are not able to provide direct support, you can share our story and motivate others to help. Because only together can such a feat be achieved.

We fully translate donations and other support into scientifically excellent research, networking and ultimately visible successes, i.e. better ME/CFS diagnostics and therapies. We are happy to work together with other organisations and initiatives - please contact us!

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