Heart for the children: Klaus Wendel celebrates his 70th with a big appeal for donations!

Heart for the children: Klaus Wendel celebrates his 70th with a big appeal for donations!

A day of honor with heart – that was the 70th birthday of Klaus Wendel from Abtweiler. In May, friends and family celebrated this special occasion, but Wendel had a very special wish: Instead of gifts, he wanted the guests to donate money. These donations went directly to the Lützelsoon e.V. association, which supports children with special needs. The siblings Thomas (7) and Eva (5) from Staudernheim, who urgently need help, are particularly affected.

Thomas suffers from a rare genetic defect known as the KCNQ2 mutation, while Eva has been diagnosed with autism. Children with such illnesses often face major challenges in everyday life. The therapies that can help the affected families are all the more important. The support association has already published a call for donations in the Wochenspiegel to draw attention to the need for this help. In total, the guests at the celebration collected around 1,300 euros, which the Wendel couple increased to 1,500 euros. The symbolic check was finally presented to Herbert Wirzius, the honorary chairman of the support association.

Therapies for affected children

The example of Thomas and Eva clearly shows how important the right therapy is for children with special needs. Therapies for the KCNQ2 gene defect include a variety of options: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and special autism therapies are on the program. These are individually adapted and prescribed after consultation with the treating doctors. Health insurance companies usually cover the costs of most of these therapies, which is a huge relief for families.

• Physiotherapie: Fördert die Bewegungs- und Funktionsfähigkeit der Kinder.
• Ergotherapie: Unterstützt die Selbstständigkeit und motorischen Fähigkeiten.
• Logopädie: Verbessert die sprachlichen Fähigkeiten.
• Frühförderung: Unterstützt die Entwicklung in den ersten Lebensjahren.

Global support for children with disabilities

But it is not only in Germany that children with disabilities need help. UNICEF also supports children in need internationally. They support projects that provide toys, learning materials and training for carers. In many countries, children with disabilities experience great disadvantages. They often receive no support and face discrimination. UNICEF works to promote inclusion and raise awareness of the needs of these children. Through donations, they can also purchase aids such as wheelchairs and prostheses and set up support centers for children with disabilities.

The contribution of Klaus Wendel and his family is not only a gesture of charity, but also a sign of how much can be achieved together. The symbolic act of donating instead of giving gifts makes it clear: There is something important - especially for the little heroes like Thomas and Eva.