Skip to main contentSkip to footer![The DKMS supporter Benedikt, wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a red DKMS t-shirt, rides a bicycle outdoors. His small white dog Bruno sits in a front bike basket, looking at the camera. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.]( "The DKMS supporter Benedikt, wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a red DKMS t-shirt, rides a bicycle outdoors. His small white dog Bruno sits in a front bike basket, looking at the camera. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.")
![A group of cyclists, wearing red DKMS t-shirts, pose together outdoors. They are smiling, raising their arms, and standing with their bikes. In the front, the DKMS supporter Benedikt is taking a selfie with the group, while his small white dog Bruno sits in a basket on his bike.]( "A group of cyclists, wearing red DKMS t-shirts, pose together outdoors. They are smiling, raising their arms, and standing with their bikes. In the front, the DKMS supporter Benedikt is taking a selfie with the group, while his small white dog Bruno sits in a basket on his bike.")
Fundraising
Fundraising for a World Without Blood Cancer
At DKMS, fundraising is more than a financial necessity, it’s what powers our mission. And while many organizations measure success in profit, we measure it in lives saved and hope restored for patients and families worldwide.
Every financial contribution, no matter how large or small, helps us save more lives, extend our reach, and raise awareness of our cause.
Ride for ALL – Benedikt's Journey to Help Save Lives
A journey of love and legacy: how one man and his dog cycled across continents to help save lives.
In 2022, Benedikt and his dog Bruno set out on a remarkable journey: cycling 4,500 kilometers across nine countries to raise awareness for DKMS. Their destination was Cabo da Roca, Portugal, but their mission was deeply personal, inspired by Benedikt’s late wife, Alicia, who passed away from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2019.
Alicia was Ecuadorian; the couple lived in Germany, where she received treatment without financial concern. They knew many patients, especially in Latin America, don’t have that access. Before she passed, they made a promise: to help others facing the same struggle.
Through Ride for ALL, Benedikt raised over €60,000, which he donated to DKMS Chile. The funds directly supported our Patient Funding Program, helping low-income patients access transplants.
In 2024, Benedikt and Bruno set out again: This time cycling 5,500 kilometers from Ambato, Ecuador (Alicia’s hometown) to Santiago de Chile. Along the way, they passed through stunning landscapes and emotional encounters, raising an additional €30,000 to support even more patients.
At the DKMS Chile Collection Center, a tribute wall now honors Benedikt and Alicia’s story - a lasting reminder of their love and the lives they continue to impact.
Benedikt’s story is a testament to the power of one individual. His determination shows that every action, every euro, every kilometer can save lives.
Making a difference, one joyful ride at a time
Our Three Pillars
Our efforts to give as many blood cancer patients as possible a second chance at life are based on three pillars.
