Project Mariechen: Help for seriously ill children in Upper Franconia

When a child falls seriously ill, life changes abruptly for the whole family. In addition to the emotional strain, there are often also financial worries, as health insurance companies and government agencies do not always cover all costs. To support families in this difficult situation, the Bayreuth Child Protection Association two years ago the project Mariechen - lucky beetle for seriously ill children was launched. It is aimed at seriously and long-term ill children and their families in Upper Franconia who find themselves in financial difficulties.

Thanks to the WIRTH Foundationwhich supports the project with 5,000 euros, can Marie continue to stand by families in need.

Why the Mariechen project is so important

For many families, the diagnosis of a child's serious illness is not only an emotional shock, but also a considerable financial burden. Although health insurance companies and public authorities cover some of the costs, many services that could make life easier for the affected children are not covered or only partially covered. This is where Marie comes into play. The project helps where regular support ends.

The aim is to ease the financial burden on families so that they can concentrate fully on the care and support of their children. This often involves things that may not seem vital at first glance, but nevertheless make everyday life much easier - such as special therapies, travel costs to clinics or aids that are not covered by health insurance.

Support from the WIRTH Foundation

The joy of Bayreuth Child Protection Association was great when the WIRTH Foundation from Münchberg announced that it would support the project Marie with a donation of 5,000 euros. This generous donation will make it possible to continue the project and support even more families in difficult situations.

"We are very grateful to the WIRTH Foundation for their support," said a spokesperson for Kinderschutzbund Bayreuth. "With this donation, we can ensure that we can continue to help where regular support stops in the coming months."

How the Mariechen project works

The project Marie is aimed at families from Upper Franconia who are in financial need due to the serious or long-term illness of a child. The Bayreuth Child Protection Association plays an important role as a mediator and coordinator of assistance. The affected families can contact the Kinderschutzbund directly and are assisted in applying for support.

The focus is on fast and unbureaucratic help. This means that families in acute emergencies do not have to wait long for support. The Kinderschutzbund team examines each request individually and tries to offer the best possible help - whether through direct financial support or by referring them to other help services.

Mariechen's previous successes

Over the past two years, the project Marie has already helped numerous families in Upper Franconia to cope better with their difficult situations. Whether it's financing rehabilitation measures, covering travel costs to treatments or providing aids, the project has lifted a burden from the shoulders of many families and allowed them to focus on what's important: the well-being of their children.

One example of the successful work of Marie is to support a family whose child had to be treated in a specialist clinic for several months due to cancer. Although the health insurance company covered the treatment costs, the parents' constant trips to the clinic and the associated expenses for accommodation and meals were an enormous burden. Thanks to the support of Marie These costs were covered so that the family could concentrate fully on their child's recovery.

How you can support the Mariechen project

The project Marie relies on donations to continue helping families in need. Every contribution counts and there are various ways to support the project:

• Financial donations: By donating money, you can make a direct contribution to ensuring that families in Upper Franconia continue to receive the support they urgently need. Any amount helps, whether large or small.

• Donations in kind: In some cases, donations in kind are also needed, such as special aids or everyday items that make everyday life easier for the families concerned.

• Volunteer work: Volunteers are also always needed to support the work of the Kinderschutzbund and to stand by the affected families in difficult times.

More information about the project and how you can help can be found on the Website of the Bayreuth Child Protection Association.

Frequently asked questions

1. who can receive support from the Mariechen project?
The project is aimed at families from Upper Franconia with seriously or long-term ill children who are in a financial emergency.

2. how to apply for support?
Families can contact the Bayreuth Child Protection Association directly. The project team examines each request individually and decides on the type of support.

3. what costs are covered?
Marie helps with costs that are not covered by health insurance or public authorities. This includes, for example, travel costs to clinics, special therapies or medical aids.

4. how can I support the Mariechen project?
The project is dependent on donations. You can support the project through financial donations, donations in kind or volunteer work.

5 What happens to the donations?
The donations are used directly to support the affected families. This covers costs that cannot be covered by other means.

Sportwagencharity collects for therapeutic riding for Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V.

Therapeutic riding is a valuable form of therapy that can help not only children, but also adults with physical or mental impairments. This therapy is often funded by health insurance companies, especially for pre-school children. However, the success of this form of animal-assisted therapy suggests that adults can also benefit from it.

How does therapeutic riding work?

Therapeutic riding is more than just contact with the horse or riding itself. It is about teamwork, taking responsibility and working together with the animals. At Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V., therapy often begins with small ponies, whose size and calm nature make it easier to get started. Later on, horses of normal size can also be used.

The positive effects of this therapy are manifold: muscle building, improved motor skills, reduction of aggression and the promotion of self-confidence are just some of the results achieved. Many children and adults with impaired motor skills or behavioral problems experience an improvement in their quality of life through interaction with the horses.

A roof for the riding arena: an essential project

Although a modern indoor riding arena is already available, it is often fully utilized in bad weather. In order to be able to use the outdoor riding arena all year round, Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V. is planning a roof. This roof will protect the riding arena from extreme summer heat, rain and even snow in winter.

A covered riding arena not only means more flexibility in operation, but also makes it possible to expand and intensify the therapy options for patients. Without the roof, the horses and patients can only work outside to a limited extent, which makes therapy more difficult in the cold or rainy months.

Support for life assistance: How you can help

The non-profit association Sportwagencharity e.V. Nuremberg has set itself the goal of supporting therapeutic riding in the region. One of the current initiatives is the financing of the new roof for the riding arena. This measure will enable Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V. to continue to make its important contribution to supporting people with special needs.

Advantages of therapeutic riding

• Promotion of motor skills: The movement on horseback stimulates the muscles, which is an ideal form of therapy, especially for people with physical disabilities.
• Psychological advantages: Interacting with the animals helps to release emotional blockages and reduce stress. Children and adults learn to take responsibility and build trust.
• Holistic approach: In addition to pure exercise therapy, working in the stables also promotes social interaction.

Overcoming inhibitions through contact with animals

Children in particular, who often have inhibitions when dealing with people, open up in contact with animals. Horses can build a bridge to human relationships and help to overcome fears and gain trust. This makes equine therapy a valuable addition to traditional therapeutic approaches.

The roof as the key to the future

The roofing of the riding arena is not only a project that facilitates the work of Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V., but also an investment in the future of riding therapy in the region. With a weather-independent riding arena, more therapy sessions can be offered and waiting times for patients can be reduced.

Further information about the project and ways to support it can be found on the Website of Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V..

Frequently asked questions

1. how can adults benefit from riding therapy?
Adults with physical or mental impairments can also improve their motor skills and reduce emotional blockages through therapeutic riding.

2 Why is a roof for the riding arena so important?
A roof protects the riding arena from extreme weather conditions and makes it possible to offer therapy all year round.

3 What role does contact with animals play in therapy?
Animals such as horses help to overcome emotional inhibitions and build trust. They can also reduce stress and aggression.

4. which animals are used in riding therapy?
Patients usually start with ponies, as they are smaller and less intimidating. Later, larger horses are also used.

5. how can I support the project?
The association Sportwagencharity e.V. Nuremberg is collecting donations to finance the roof for the riding arena. Any support helps!