Photo: R. Sawatzki / S. cutter
Hamburg has rarely experienced such an emotional evening.
The gateway to the world became the gateway to the heart. At the Kehrwieder Theater in Hamburg, the program magazine drew for the third time at a glance "heroes of everyday life". Honored were people who became role models through selfless action and self-sacrificing engagement.
The gala was hosted by TV presenter Jörg Pilawa. Among the more than 200 guests were numerous celebrities such as Wolfgang Stumph, Birgit Schrowange, Wanda Perdelwitz, Rhea Harder, Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, Yvonne Catterfeld and Alexa Maria Surholt.
The winners: Detective Superintendent Carlos Benede from Munich. He was responsible for victim protection, took care in the year 2000 of the then 11-year-old Alex, who was traumatized after the murder of his mother by the father. Later he adopted him. Nine years ago, the policeman took a second boy of equal fate. In addition, the 52-year-old founded the association "Weitblick Jugendhilfe", which helps children and adolescents in difficult life situations. Carlos Benede was honored with 5, 000 euros. With a prize money of 3, 000 euros Christoph Rickels (Friedeburg / Lower Saxony) was awarded.
Seven years ago, the then 20-year-old was dejected for no reason in front of a nightclub and then spent four months in a coma. Since then Christoph Rickels is severely disabled and paralyzed spastic paraplegic. Nevertheless, he founded the initiative "First Togetherness" and promotes a non-violent cooperation in schools. Another winner is Maike Martens (50) from Oldenburg, whose bone marrow donation saved the life of a now 52-year-old father of a family. Maike Martens was honored with 2, 000 euros in prize money.
In addition, the editors awarded two special prizes worth 1, 000 euros each. One went to the family of six-year-old Emelie Bollmann. The girl from Aspisheim (Rhineland-Palatinate) crashed last year on a family outing in Hamburg on a walk in the Elbe and was only after 30 minutes of helpers from the water to be recovered. For seven weeks, Emelie was in the vegetative state. The fact that the child survived borders, according to the doctors on a miracle - it is also a miracle how the girl with the help of her parents recovered from their serious damage.
The second special prize was awarded to the family of 14-year-old Antonia Marx from Hennef (near Bonn). Shortly after her birth she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis - a hereditary disease that is incurable. For Antonia, her 16-year-old brother Mathias is her "hero of everyday life" because he is always there for her. At the gala she thanked him with a touching letter.
Editor-in-Chief Jan von Frenckell (49): "We have honored people who did not give up in unbelievable situations - and outgrew themselves. Real heroes! "
