Press release
"The Hamburg Goldkehlchen" donate 50,000 Euros for research into ME/CFS
Hamburg 14. Juli 2024
The Hamburg Goldkehlchen gave two "traditional summer concerts" last weekend in Hamburg's Stadtpark. The legendary male choir from Hamburg sang for a good cause. The proceeds from Saturday's concert went to the ME/CFS Research Foundation, which funds research into the multisystemic disease ME/CFS.
In front of 5,000 fans: Goldkehlchen singers Seppo and Ingo Zamperoni hand over a donation of 50,000 euros to Jörg Heydecke from the ME/CFS Research Foundation. Photos: Daniel Kolakowski
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. Once again, Die Hamburger Goldkehlchen showed their social commitment and their fans joined in. At the end of the evening, Ingo Zamperoni was able to hand over 50,000 euros to Jörg Heydecke, founder and managing director of the ME/CFS Research Foundation.
Goldkehlchen Seppo (Sebastian Orthmann) and Jörg Heydecke are affected: Both have a family member who is seriously ill with ME/CFS or Long Covid. In a video on Instagram, they call for donations together and explain 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."
Jörg Heydecke founded the ME/CFS Foundation 2022. The traditional Hamburg Goldkehlchen summer concert in aid of his foundation is doubly fortunate for him. He has long been a fan of the choir and is now delighted with the remarkable donation, which he plans to invest in an ongoing research project. Prof Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen has been researching ME/CFS at Charité Berlin for many years. In addition to ongoing projects, her team has been working on biomarkers and disease mechanisms since January 2024. This new project is mainly funded by the ME/CFS Research Foundation.
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Further information on ME/CFS, the foundation and current media coverage can be found in the press section of our website: https://mecfs-research.org/press/
Donation info: https://mecfs-research.org/spenden/
Donation account: DE35 2004 0000 0628 5316 00 (Commerzbank)
ME/CFS Research Foundation is a non-profit limited liability company and fulfils the statutory requirements according to §§ 51, 59, 60 and 61 AO (German tax laws). It may issue donation receipts within the meaning of Section 10b of the German Income Tax Act.
About ME/CFS Research Foundation
The non-profit ME/CFS Research Foundation supports and promotes biomedical research into the disease spectrum of ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Due to insufficient research, there is still no causal therapy for this common, severe and complex multisystemic disease. The foundation finances research projects, connects researchers and provides information about research. In doing so, the foundation cooperates with many ME/CFS patient organisations that have long been working to improve the situation.
About ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and long COVID:
ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a chronic, severe multisystem disease with a wide range of disorders, particularly of the nervous and immune systems. ME/CFS is predominantly post-infectious, including as a result of COVID-19. It is the most severe form of long COVID. ME/CFS sufferers have pronounced physical and cognitive symptoms, a very low quality of life and often a high degree of disability. 60 to 75 per cent of all patients are unable to work, many of them are housebound or bedridden. The leading symptom is severe exertional intolerance with worsening of symptoms after everyday activities (PEM = post-exertional malaise). Due to the lack of a biomarker, ME/CFS can only be diagnosed with extensive anamnesis and cross-disciplinary exclusion diagnostics. Many doctors lack the necessary knowledge for this. It often takes years for patients to receive a diagnosis. To date, there is no causal therapy. Adults with ME/CFS currently have little prospect of recovery and reintegration into working life. The prognosis for children and adolescents is better, but long-term absences from school are the norm. For most patients, participation in normal life with a job, education, friends, sports, hobbies, etc. is not possible.
There are over 40 million patients with ME/CFS worldwide. In Germany, it is assumed that over 650,000 people are affected. Some of those affected by long COVID also develop ME/CFS. The medical and psychosocial care situation for patients is insufficient. Misdiagnoses often occur, resulting in consequential damage. Economic factors are also critical, as workers are absent from work due to illness and training programmes are not started or completed.
All the figures and sources mentioned can be found on our website: https://mecfs-research.org/en/was-ist-me-cfs/
