A historic day for Charity-Hiker e.V.: €16,066.52 handed over at Katharinenhöhe in Schönwald, Black Forest, on December 15, 2025.
It was the moving culmination of a journey that had kept our association and thousands of supporters on the edge of their seats for 15 months.
This Monday, our Charity-Hiker Sven Hardt returned to where it all began, at the Katharinenhöhe rehabilitation clinic in the Black Forest.
In a solemn setting, the results of the charity hike "From the North Cape to the End of the World" were officially handed over.
A record sum for children with cancer
With pride and deep gratitude, Sven was able to hand over the final check to the clinic's management. The sum of €16,066.52
is the result of over 8,000 kilometers filled with hardship, emotion, and nights spent under tent. Every cent of this amount is being used,
as promised from the start, 100% for the Katharinenhöhe's work, to give new hope to severely ill children and their
families.
The clinic's director, Stephan Maier, emphasized during the handover just how important such private initiatives are for the institution.
Sven hadn't just raised money — he'd generated attention for the fate of these children, a true
"ambassador of humanity," as he was called during the ceremony.
Sven's message: a tent, a gas stove, and a goal
At the handover, Sven found moving words to express his motivation:
"During those 15 months, I often slept under tent in freezing weather and cooked my meals on a small gas stove.
Many asked me why I put myself through such hardship. But when I think of the children at Katharinenhöhe, fighting a
serious illness they never chose, every effort and every cold night take on a completely different meaning —
because I chose this to be a mirror and an ambassador for them. If my steps could help
bring a smile back to their faces and create awareness for them, then every meter was worth it."
Charity-Hiker Sven Hardt
The media echo: a project that resonates
If this project was able to build such momentum, it's also thanks to press support.
Regional and national media regularly reported on Sven's progress.
Special mention goes to coverage by the Schwarzwälder Bote and the Südkurier,
which closely followed Sven's journey from its start at the North Cape through his stop at the clinic in February 2025, and
finally to his arrival in Fisterra. Specialist portals and regional stations like SWR (BW), Meer Radio, and
Primavera24 also helped spread the "Hike for a Smile" message far beyond the borders of the Black Forest.
"Sven Hardt has proven with his tour that one person, alone and on foot, can make the world a little better,"
as a press representative
summed it up during today's handover (paraphrased from recent Südkurier and Schwarzwälder Bote coverage, Dec. 2025).
From goal achieved to a new beginning
For us at Charity-Hiker e.V., December 15 marks the end of one chapter — but also the beginning of a new era.
Inspired by this success, Sven is already preparing for his next mission, the Charity Hike 2027, which will take him from
Santiago de Compostela to Cologne and on to Rome, before returning to Santiago de Compostela.
We thank all our donors, our media partners for their coverage, and of course Sven for his unstoppable resolve.
Together, we made history.
Your Charity-Hiker e.V. Team
Sources:
- Südkurier: report on the final donation handover on 12/15/2025.
- Schwarzwälder Bote: "Charity-Hiker Sven Hardt ends Europe tour," December 2025 edition.
- Katharinenhöhe press portal: "Visit and donation handover by Charity Hiker Sven Hardt" (www.katharinenhoehe.de).
