Rainbow Papi fights for Matilda: book and blood donation campaign in Edeka!

Rainbow Papi fights for Matilda: book and blood donation campaign in Edeka!

In Kaufungen, a small town in Hesse, there is a very special initiative that touches children's hearts: Marcel Kahl, better known as Rainbow Dad, has written a loving children's book that sheds light on the difficult world of cancer in a child-friendly way. The book is entitled “A Blood Donation for Tilda” and is dedicated to cancer patient Matilda Ast, who was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a type of kidney cancer, last December. Kahl has not only created an insightful work, but is also planning an event in the local Edeka branch on November 7th and 8th, 2025 to draw attention to the book and the crucial issue of blood donations. This will take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and is intended to collect both pre-orders and donations for Matilda.

As Kahl explained in an interview, his intention with the book is to convey the topic in a positive and understandable way. In Elisabeth Waechter's illustration, Matilda is depicted in the hospital, where she receives a life-saving blood transfusion. This is intended to inform children about the blood donation process in a playful way and to give them an understanding of the situation. Matthias, a boy from the neighborhood who goes to school with Matilda, shows Kahl how important it is to support each other - especially in difficult times.

Support for Matilda

Matilda is not a child like any other. Not only does she struggle with a heart defect, but she also faces the challenge of successfully completing treatment for her cancer. Doctors expect the treatment to be completed by the end of the year. Until then, Matilda needs not only medical support, but also the help of friends and the community. As part of the campaign at Edeka, a donation box will be set up at checkout 1 so that locals can help directly.

Kahl, who works full-time for a blood donation service, has already taken a few big steps: the book has successfully gone through the editing process and a Frankfurt publisher has already expressed interest in publishing it. Release is scheduled for mid-to-late 2026, and pre-orders are open now. Anyone interested can simply contact marcel-kahl@gmx.net to support the project.

Literature about children and cancer

Unfortunately, Matilda's fate is not unique, and the topic of childhood cancer is also addressed in many children's books. It is important that children have access to appropriate resources to understand the complex issues surrounding illness, recovery and life. Titles like “Leo’s dad has cancer,” “Courage in the Hat: My mom has cancer,” and “What’s the deal with cancer?” are just a few of many who deal with this issue and can support children and parents. These books are written by a variety of authors and are designed to help children through difficult times.

For more information about children's literature on this topic and a variety of book tips, interested parents can also visit websites such as krebs-bei-kindern.de and kurvenkratzer.com access. These resources are worth their weight in gold to give young readers guidance in difficult times.