Berlin – September 10, 2026 -- German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) collected roughly 4.6 million euros in donations during a televised charity quiz special broadcast on public broadcaster ZDF.
Celebrity contestants earn 80,000 euros in quiz duels against subject experts
Actors Moritz Bleibtreu and Henning Baum, alongside model Franziska Knuppe, competed on "Der Quiz-Champion - Das Spenden-Special," hosted by Johannes B. Kerner, against five specialists: Anna Thalbach, Johann Lafer, Felix Neureuther, Elton and Katrin Bauerfeind. The three celebrities' combined quiz performance generated 80,000 euros for German Cancer Aid.
Follow-up "Spenden-Challenge" segment adds 29,000 euros via social media creators
A subsequent segment, "Der Quiz-Champion - Die Spenden-Challenge," featured social-media creators Rashid Hamid, Stine + Marc and Viet Chau facing the expert panel, with chef Sarah Wiener replacing Johann Lafer. Each duel won by the creators contributed 1,000 euros to German Cancer Aid, adding 29,000 euros to the total.
Deutsche Krebshilfe commits 33 million euros to pancreatic cancer research alliance
Professor Thomas Seufferlein, medical director of internal medicine at Ulm University Hospital, said approximately 20,000 people in Germany are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, with nearly as many dying from the disease. German Cancer Aid is funding the "Deutsche Allianz Pankreaskarzinom," a five-year collaboration involving more than 100 researchers, with 33 million euros to improve treatment outcomes.
Dr. Gabriele Calaminus of University Hospital Bonn's Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine described a case in which a German Cancer Aid-funded therapy study allowed a 14-year-old patient with a rare germ cell tumor to avoid additional chemotherapy while maintaining equivalent survival chances. German Cancer Aid President Professor Rita Schmutzler said the organization funds research aimed at accelerating the translation of findings into patient treatment through certified Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Cancer researcher and author Hanna Heikenwälder said that based on current medical knowledge, roughly half of cancer cases could be prevented by avoiding known risk factors, slowing disease progression or enabling earlier detection. Sports therapist Silke Guercke of ASC Göttingen said physical activity remains one of the most effective factors in both cancer prevention and post-treatment recovery.
Additional participants collecting viewer donation calls during the broadcast included TV presenter Susanne Klehn, ice hockey national coach André Rankel, and former women's national football coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.