Fundraising campaign: Charity classic car trip to the Niederfinow boat lift

On Saturday, 14 September 2024, the Rotary Club Havelland-Königswald organised a charity classic car rally. The day trip took around 20 classic cars on a 220-kilometre journey across Brandenburg.

At 8:30 in the morning, all participants gathered at the Selgros self-service wholesale store in Falkensee near Berlin. The first leg of the journey, covering around 125 kilometres, took the classic cars from Falkensee via Schönewalde, Bützow, Velen, Marwitz, Velten, Borgsdorf, Lehnitz, Liebenwalde, Hammer, Groß Schönbeck, Britz and Eberswalde to the Niederfinow boat lift.

There, participants enjoyed coffee and cake before taking part in a guided tour of the ship lift. The Niederfinow ship lift was commissioned in 1934 and is the oldest ship lift still in operation in Germany. It overcomes a height difference of 36 metres between the summit level and the Havel-Oder waterway. The structure is a protected industrial monument under the Hague Convention. Parallel to the existing lift, the Niederfinow North ship lift was built, which is suitable for larger ships. After years of delays, it was inaugurated on 4 October 2022.

The return journey took place in perfect weather, again in vintage cars, from Niederfinow via Trampe, Klobbicke, Grünthal, Bernau, Schönow, Burchhorst, Schönfließ, Bergfelde and Bötzow back to Falkensee to Edmond's Hexenhaus. The cheque was presented there.

At the end of the day, the Rotary Club Havelland-Königswald presented a cheque for around €750 to the association Angriff auf die Seele – Psychosoziale Hilfe für Angehörige der Bundeswehr e.V. (Attack on the Soul – Psychosocial Help for Members of the German Armed Forces). The chairman, Frank Eggen, expressed his gratitude when the cheque was handed over. He had been present throughout the day as a participant in the outing, provided information about the association's work and emphasised that this money would be put to good use. The need is particularly high for relatives of soldiers who are suffering from stress, as there are still gaps in the provision of care by state agencies.

The Rotary Club Havelland-Königswald is a group of dedicated members who are committed to social causes in the Havelland region. Rotary brings together people from all continents, cultures and professions to serve the community worldwide and contribute to better global understanding.