A strong team: The newly elected Board of Directors, as well as the members of the Board of Trustees: (from left): Ludwig Sperrer (Treasurer), Christine Riedl (2nd Chairwoman), Dr. Heino Pause (1st Chairman), Birgit Hutsteiner (Secretary), Sebastian Grießl (Member of the Board of Trustees), Elisabeth Moosreiner (Member of the Board of Trustees) and Dr. Christoph von Schilling (Chairman of the Board of Trustees). © Maria & Christoph
The cancer aid association Maria & Christoph has been in existence for 15 years. The chairman explains what has changed for the better during this time.
Freising – Maria and Christoph: Two first names that have already given courage to many of those affected. Even more: who helped or stood by them in the most serious crisis of their lives. We are talking about the Freising Cancer Aid "Maria & Christoph", which has been committed to helping those affected for 15 years - and with a constantly growing range of services. Now Lia Köhnlein's cancer aid is also integrated here. In an interview with the FT, chairman Dr. Heino Pause looks back on the beginnings and reports on why the association is becoming increasingly important.
Mr. Pause, how did the unusual name of the association come about?
The initiative to create a cancer aid association came from patients in the hospital, Maria Mayerthaler and Alfred Christoph. Both were of the opinion that something had to be done for the patients beyond the purely medical treatment. The moment the diagnosis of cancer comes into life, the world stops for the time being. We have thought about how we can help with this.
Do you still remember the goals of that time?
It started very small. The first help we provided was the painting group, which later bore the name "Art of Living". This has resulted in an extensive program with now 14 offers, for support in financial, moral and psychological ways.
They are in constant contact with cancer patients and their relatives. What fears do you encounter?
When the association was founded, I was still working as a doctor and clearly felt the fears associated with the diagnosis. I still have very close contact with people who deal with cancer patients. What one encounters are the fear for the family and the job, the fear of becoming dependent, and the fear of fellow human beings in dealing with cancer patients, so that it is not uncommon for the person concerned to be lonely.
Which offers are particularly important?
One of many is the offer "Finding Cohesion", the care of children and adolescents, because the situation in the family is always very difficult when a member of the family is seriously ill or deceased. We are trying to absorb this very difficult situation financially, which is done in close cooperation with Diakonie Freising.
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What does the feedback from the hospital look like?
Due to my many years of work at the Freising Hospital, I have a very good relationship with the senior physicians there, but also with the administration, especially with the oncology department. Dr. Christoph von Schilling, the chief physician there, is the chairman of our board of trustees and can therefore intervene very actively. For example, we have psycho-oncological care and support, which, by the way, can also be continued after a hospital stay. These costs will be covered by us. There is also feedback from the medical profession in emergencies. For example, we were able to help with the assumption of medicines, the costs of which are not covered by health insurance. Respiratory therapy in the field of oncology and palliative care is also used extensively. The feedback from patients is very positive. I have a certain degree of notoriety, and wherever I meet someone in the city who has been cared for by Maria & Christoph, I am given great gratitude.
Is there still free capacity for your considerable offer?
Corona hit us very hard because direct contact with patients was very limited or not possible at all. As a result, many of the offers have free capacities. Those affected can contact the relevant active members at any time. We have a newly designed website for this purpose, which provides very specific information about what offers we have in store. A short video can also be opened there.
What do cancer patients have to pay for it?
All offers are free of charge, they are supported by the association, not through government grants, but exclusively through donations. Our annual costs average between 50,000 and 60,000 euros. At the moment we are a support association of about 100 members, with a contribution of 30 euros. We are very grateful if we continue to be supported.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
Do you have contact with the hospice association?
Yes, more recently also more actively. Here we can see that attitudes towards life in connection with the hospice idea .dem or dying have changed positively in recent years. We are much more aware that life is finite and this has also prevailed among the general public. In the past, these were all taboo subjects.
(Interview: Sebastian Grießl)
You can find even more up-to-date news from the district of Freising on Merkur.de/Freising.