In order to finance poor Romanian families with firewood for the winter, Alexander Ens spares no effort - not even a bath in the ice-cold Kirchsee.
With his "Ice-Buki-Challenge" the 30-year-old wants to draw attention to an aid project that has no budget for fundraising.
Sachsenkam - Ice bathing is trendy and healthy.
At least if you believe experts.
One of them is the physiotherapist and biology student Alexander Ens.
He's been bathing in ice cold water for many winters.
Usually in the rain barrel behind his house or in the Isar.
During a trip to Bad Tölz, the 30-year-old from the Munich district discovered the Kirchsee - and decided to combine the refreshing experience with charity.
“Originally I just wanted to motivate my family to go ice bathing.
And a good cause can be a strong motivation. "
Ice-cold fun for warming firewood
The good cause was quickly found: "My ex-girlfriend worked as an intern in the Buki House in Romania and told me about it." The so-called Buki House is a day-care center in the Romanian village of Cidreag.
For ten years now, social workers have been looking after 45 Roma children there, whose families live in abject poverty.
They bring the children to school, provide breakfast and lunch, and help with homework.
"In addition, we create a social environment in the Buki-Haus in which Western norms are conveyed," explains the chairman of the sponsoring association, Stefan Zell.
Because the children come from families that have lost touch with society for decades.
“For example, you don't know the time.
If someone doesn't know what a clock is, they can't get their children to school on time. ”Firewood is needed to heat the Buki house - and a lot of it.
This costs 1,400 euros a year, plus the cost of the wood that the project managers use to support families in need.
Social action for day-care centers in Romania
With the "Ice Buki Challenge", Ens wants to draw attention to the facility that hardly anyone knows.
After all, there is no influential social enterprise behind it that can afford fundraising campaigns.
Two private individuals from Bad Saulgau in Upper Swabia opened the house in 2008 after they were confronted with the plight of Roma families on a trip to Romania.
The name is derived from Kinderhilfe Bulgaria - an earlier project of the two.
Bathing in the ice-cold lake is not absolutely necessary - a cold shower is enough
If you accept the challenge, you first have to face the cold: “It doesn't necessarily have to be ice bathing,” says Ens, “you can also bathe in the snow, take a cold shower, have a snowball fight or stick your finger in a glass of ice water.
There are no limits to your imagination. ”The participants then make a short video or photo of this - and nominate their friends by sharing the photo or video and the challenge on Facebook, Instagram or other social media.
Afterwards they donate for the Buki house.
How much is decided by everyone. The campaign has been running since January 29th - with success: "Since then, donations have been received in the association's account every day," says Ens.
+
Roma children in front of the Buki house: The challenge participants donate to this daycare center in Cidreag, Romania.
© Private
Positive side effect: Those who take part strengthen their immune system.
"Kneipp already propagated ice bathing," says physiotherapist Ens.
It stimulates the cardiovascular system and activates hormonal processes.
According to studies, ice bathing can even extend life.
Most of all, it's just fun: “It feels as if the warmth is being drawn into the core of the body.
It's an exciting feeling, ”says Ens.
Participation strengthens the immune system
The water of the Kirchsee was three degrees cold when Ens and his cousin Katharina (28) recently climbed in slowly.
“As soon as you are inside, you can no longer feel the cold.
You can even relax, ”says Ens.
Afterwards he felt completely clear, alert and energetic.
“If you face the cold, you come to completely.
Not only does the blood flow into the middle of the body, the spirit also comes into the middle. "
+
Katharina Ens (28) takes a bath in the cold Kirchsee.
She didn't have to chop a hole in the ice (that would be forbidden), the area around the jetty wasn't frozen over at the time of the bath.
© Private
Saxony's mayor Andreas Rammler thinks the action is good - as long as no dangerous spots are created.
As reported, the community banned the hacking of the ice surface after a child broke in near the pier.
“The problem is not the ice bathing itself, but the holes.
They freeze over overnight, but they are nowhere near as thick as the surrounding ice surface.
The holes are difficult to see, especially when there is snow on them. ”On Friday, Rammler meets with ice bathers at Kirchsee to find a place where holes can be hacked into the ice sheet without endangering ice skaters and others.
Ens and his cousin didn't chop a hole in the ceiling for their bathroom anyway - the water around the jetty wasn't frozen.
The prohibition sign that the community had put up wasn't there either: “Somebody took it off,” says Rammler.
Information about the challenge at
www.buki-hilfe.de
Also read:
Benediktbeurer are trained in Naples and set up a pizza oven rental service in Corona times
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen: When the food comes to the front door