Raising funds by bike
As part of the ‘Shaping the Way’ project organised by Wirtschaftsjunioren Hannover e.V., Marvin Götz cycled more than 3,000 km over a 12-month period and visited all 39 local chapters of the North German Regional Association of Wirtschaftsjunioren. In doing so, he succeeded in raising a total of 30,000 euros in donations. The sum will be divided equally between the Bergen-Belsen Memorial, the Hanover-based charity Ganz unten e. V. and the Robert Enke Foundation.
A donation for democracy and against exclusion
According to Marvin Götz, the decisive factor in choosing the beneficiaries was the news of the sudden death of his childhood friend Lukas – a former volunteer at the Bergen-Belsen Memorial. “A person with a clear set of values who championed democracy, fought against social injustice and stood up for those in need, regardless of their background or appearance,” as Marvin Götz aptly writes about Lukas. We, too, remember Lukas as a committed individual and are glad that we had the opportunity to get to know him during his time at the Bergen-Belsen Memorial.
We are particularly grateful for Marvin Götz’s commitment. “We are delighted that Marvin has chosen us as the recipient of his donation,” says Katrin Unger, deputy director of the Bergen-Belsen Memorial: “Not only because the donation supports our work, but also because of the personal connection to our former volunteer, Lukas. Furthermore, this once again highlights the vital importance of civic engagement. Whilst memorial work is repeatedly attacked, particularly from the right, we receive vital support from committed individuals such as Marvin Götz.”