Prominent patrons

Moritz Netenjakob is a satirist and author. He visited the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice for the first time in August 2022 together with long-standing celebrity sponsor Christoph Maria Herbst. He delighted guests young and old alike with excerpts from their joint programme "Das ernsthafte Bemühen um Albernheit". A feeling that Moritz Netenjakob also took home with him that day. Because things were very different at "Balthasar" than he thought: colourful, lively and fun. The Cologne native would like to contribute to this in the future - and once again put smiles on faces during his second visit with his "10 most bizarre tour experiences".

Moritz Netenjakob has been a celebrity sponsor of the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice since 19 January 2023, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the first German children's hospice in 2023. The joy is great on both sides. After all, we take life and laughter very seriously at Balthasar. And who could be a better fit for us?

Christoph Maria Herbst, the well-known German actor and voice actor, has received several awards for his role as Stromberg alone, including the German Comedy Award and the German Television Award.

"I keep thinking back to my day at her hospice, and all the impressions there have stayed with me for a long time. I would like to take over the sponsorship of your home. I'm looking forward to it," the actor wrote to us after his visit in August 2011.

As Bernd Stromberg in the Pro 7 series of the same name, Christoph Maria Herbst played the most horrible boss in the world when he took on his sponsorship: self-centred and full of sarcasm. However, the families and staff at the Balthasar children's and youth hospice experienced a completely different person during the actor's visit: warm, open and always with a funny saying on his lips.

"I'm impressed by how much joie de vivre there is here," he says. "You can feel the fullness of life here and it's so easy to prioritise life and not the illness and to make contact with the children. He tips a thousand hats to the staff and even more so to the parents."

In the guest book of the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice, he wrote: "Thank you for the encounter, the impressions, the atmosphere, the kindness. THANK YOU for you!" - and we also say: "Thank you! Thank you for being at our side!"

Jini (Janine Meyer) and Henne (Henrik Oberbossel) have been sponsors of the Balthasar children's and youth hospice since December 2009 and were part of the band "Luxuslärm" until 2016. Together with their three bandmates, they won many newcomer awards and had their biggest success with their debut single "1,000 kilometres to the sea".

Jini and Henne are now back on the road musically and perform with their newly formed band.

Even on her first visit, Jini was deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality at "Balthasar". In September 2018, Jini and Henne were guests at our 20th birthday party and delighted us with their wonderful music as a duet.

Thank you very much for your years of support - we are already looking forward to your next visit!

Peter Prange says about the children's and youth hospice and the book "Platz da, ich lebe", which he dedicated to our young guests:

"During a reading trip in autumn 2010, I was able to visit a place that touched me more than any story, no matter how dramatic: the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice in Olpe / Sauerland.

From the outside, the hospice is a rather inconspicuous building, but nowhere else are life and death as close together as in this "hostel on the way".

During my first visit to Olpe, I had the idea of dedicating a book to the guests of this house: as a small memorial to some young people who have perhaps learnt more about life in their few years of life than most of us have in decades. So that something remains of them, even when they are gone. At the same time, such a book should contain their message to life: not only for their loved ones, but for all of us. Because the experiences that these children and young people have had and are having are a highly instructive reminder to us normal, healthy people of what a wonderful gift life is - and how often we simply forget this fact in the face of our little worries and hardships."

Ralf Schmitz is a comedian, actor, improvisation talent and a welcome guest on various TV programmes - and also at the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice. During his visits to Olpe, the all-rounder is always deeply impressed by the joie de vivre of our young and old guests and is delighted when he can make the families laugh. For this reason, he didn't have to think long about the offer to become a sponsor of the hospice.

"A great day. A great experience. Thank you! It's wonderful to see what people do for others. How great that children are helped like this - with so much will, willingness and energy! An example that will hopefully set a precedent for many more..."

The presenter Birgit Schrowange has been associated with the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice for many years and took over sponsorship of the centre in 2003:

"It's great what you do. You can tell "at every turn" what a loving atmosphere prevails here and how comfortable children and parents feel here. I wish you continued support, strength and lots of money so that this facility is always maintained - and I look forward to my next visit to you."

In autumn 2018, Birgit Schrowange shot a TV commercial for us, which can be seen as a "social spot" on RTL Group channels.

"I'm campaigning for the Balthasar children's hospice because I think it's really important that families with their sick and healthy children can come together here and get help in this difficult situation."

Kerstin Szymkowiak, born in Marmeck (Olpe district), won the silver medal in skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Skeleton is a spectacular Olympic winter sport in which the skeleton athletes lie upside down on their stomachs on a sled and race through the ice channels at speeds of up to 145 km/h with their chins just a few centimetres above the ice.

During her visit, Kerstin Szymkowiak was deeply impressed by the loving care at the children's and young people's hospice: "If I can make a small contribution to the work, then I'm happy to do so. I am proud to be able to get to know the people here at the children's and young people's hospice. What is a silver medal compared to a moment of happiness and a smiling child's face?"

She takes her role as a sponsor very seriously and continues to visit the families at the children's and young people's hospice regularly. She often makes them happy with items of clothing, cushions and blankets that she has sewn herself. "I'm delighted to have arrived with you," she says.

The tiger duck first appeared in 1978 in Janosch's classic children's book "Oh, how beautiful is Panama". The little tiger always has his tiger duck with him, pulling it behind him or taking it in his arms. "If only my tiger duck doesn't get wet," says the little tiger, "then I'm not afraid of anything."

At the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice, we also want to be by our little guests' side and give them a time free of fear. That is why we are particularly pleased that the black and yellow striped duck has been the godmother of the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice since 2009 and has also given us a special gift: the picture of the tiger duck with a heart at the end of its string, which symbolises the loving and individual care given to the children at "Balthasar".

Marc Weide is a magician, entertainer and TV presenter. When the newly crowned world champion magician performed for the 20th birthday of the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice in autumn 2018, he put a smile on the faces of the guests - his best trick, according to him. With his easy-going manner and likeable charisma, he immediately cast a spell over the audience, first causing incredulous amazement and then uproarious laughter. It was also a special evening for Marc Weide. He was impressed by the history of the first German children's hospice, the affected families who had their say and, above all, the joie de vivre that took centre stage: "A great evening that I will remember for a long time to come!"

His first visit to the children's and young people's hospice in February 2019 was just as great. He took plenty of time for chats, photos and autographs and also gave an insight into his magic repertoire. We are delighted that Marc Weide is a celebrity sponsor of the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice and are excited to see what tricks he will soon be using to enchant our guests, both young and old.

More about Marc Weide: https://www.marc-weide.de/

Rolf Zuckowski has sponsored the first German children's hospice since 2003 and supports the work of the centre.

"I belong to you", he wrote in the guest book. On its 10th birthday, he wrote to us:

"I congratulate the Balthasar children's hospice on its 10th "birthday". What better place to realise that every day, every hour that we have together is important for children too and that we need to feel its value. Realising this in depth is the message that Balthasar Children's Hospice sends out into the country, far beyond the families affected. I therefore feel a special bond with this organisation and its people."