With a post on her Facebook page, Andrea Petkovic proudly announced her great achievement in raising 115,000 euros in a charity event in Germany, played in support of children suffering from cancer. The tennis star participated in the initiative promoted by German association "Du musst kämpfen" ("You have to fight"), born in memory of young tennis player Johnny Heimes, who lost his battle against the disease in March.
A charity event to support sports therapy and home treatments
"I am very happy and proud to tell you that we gathered a whopping 115,000€ at our charity-tournament in favor of children suffering from cancer last Saturday," Petkovic wrote on her Facebook page.
“Besides the sports therapy that enables children to do sports during chemotherapy and thereby boosting their immune system, we support a second project this year: the PalliativTeam, which helped Johnny to take leave of his family at home. This was particularly important to us, because we witnessed firsthand what an incredible job these people do. Thanks to everyone who donated, supported and helped us keeping the spirit of Johnny alive”.
Petkovic is referring to young German tennis player Jonathan “Johnny” Heimes who died last year at the too young age of 25 years old, and to whose name the association and the charity tournament had been born.
An event in memory of Johnny Heimes
Johnny Heimes had been fighting cancer for almost half of his life, a calvary started at fourteen years old, when his dreams to pursue a professional tennis career had been put to a stop by the disease. He lost his battle against cancer, but the association born in his name will keep fighting to provide help for children suffering the same strain. Andrea Petkovic is one of the supporters of this project.
“Johnny was a great inspiration to me, he showed pertinancy and courage in a situation only few people can keep up hope in. He touched a lot of people leaving his mark in this world,” Andrea Petkovic had written in March. “I am proud to be part of his charity-project DMK - Du musst kämpfen. In the end he was released and hopefully taken to a better place.”
Besides tennis, the association is holding sporting events in soccer, ski race and a charity run, all intended to support young cancer patients through sport, economical and psychological support.