News Archive

real,- BERLIN-MARATHON and the v. Bodelschwingschen Anstalten Bethel in

Bielefeld, Europes largest diaconate facility, are planning to cooperate on a

larger scale. In doing so, they hope to further the motto “Accomplishing

Community“, which is also a significant goal of this institution for the

disabled, in and through the sport of running.

The cooperation between

BERLIN-MARATHON and the v. Bodelschwinghschen Anstalten began at the first

German Ecumenical Meeting (Ökumenischen Kirchentag) at the end of this

past May in Berlin, where the registration fee of the so-called Ecu-Run was in

the form of a minimum donation for the sport and exercise work of Bethel. In

this manner, a total of 1,111.11 € was collected. The partners in this

cooperation hope that now the next ’magic number’ will be reached

through further generous donations. Donations can be made to the account listed

below using the keyword “Öku-Lauf Berlin”.

For over two decades, BERLIN-MARATHON has been collecting stamps from

incoming mail, which then has been passed on to the so-called ‘stamp

collection at Bethel. There they are sorted and then sold to collectors. For

the first time at the 30th real,- BERLIN-MARATHON, staff from the v.

Bodelschwinghschen Anstalten will be collecting the clothing left behind by

skaters and runners at the start, to be brought to another workshop, the

so-called “Brockensammlung“, for disabled people at Bethel. There

they will also be sorted and prepared either for further wear or other use. It

will also be possible to drop off clothing on the weekend of the 30th real,-

BERLIN-MARATHON directly at the Bethel truck in the starting area on the

Straße des 17. Juni. It is superfluous to say that there will be disabled

people from Bethel who will also be starting at this years 30. real,- BERLIN-

MARATHON, when it is time to “Accomplish Community“ …

Since the founding of

the Bethel facility at the foot of the Teutoburg Forest in the Bielefeld city

district of Gadderbaum through Pastor Friedrich von Bodelschwingh about 130

years ago, diverse forms of movement, play, and sport have been part of the

therapeutic methods with which the disabled could lead as ‘normal a life

as possible here. Since 1990, exercise and sport therapy under the leadership

of Dr. Lutz Worms has been developed into a complex program, which includes

soccer and swimming, as well as track and field athletics and trampoline.

Special projects like golf for the mentally disabled and Judo for people with

epilepsy are considered to be unique innovations in the area of sport therapy.

Highlights of Bethels sport activity are the yearly “Bethel

Athletics“ which take place every July, and participation in the

international Special Olympics. The club Integra e.V. was created in order to

be able to participate in competitive sporting events, and it also helps to

permanently realise the goal of “Accomplishing Community“.

The v. Bodelschwinghschen Anstalten Bethel has facilities with about 15,000

spaces in 5 federal states for people who are disabled, in need of care, or

socially disadvantaged. The main fields of work at Bethel are care for the

disabled, senior citizens care, epilepsy, youth assistance, care for the

homeless, psychiatry, work and rehabilitation, and providing medical care at

hospitals for the acutely ill. Much of what Bethel does to improve the life

situations of the people in their care is only possible thanks to support in

the form of contributions of money and goods.

Further information about the v. Bodelschwinghschen Anstalten Bethel can be

found on the internet at: www.bethel.de.

If you would like to support the work of Bethel with a contribution, you can

make a donation to the following account: Account Nr. 4077 at Sparkasse

Bielefeld (BLZ 480 501 61).