Mainova Frankfurt Marathon participants run for a good cause

Crossing the finish line on the red carpet in the Festhalle is an overwhelming experience and a memory that will last a lifetime. Fulfilling the heartfelt wishes of people in the final stages of their lives is the goal of the ASB Wish Ambulance Rhein-Main. The wishes are as diverse as the people who have them. The Workers’ Samaritan Federation (ASB) makes these wishes come true. People with little time left can reach their dream destinations with the ASB Wish Ambulance: one last trip to the stadium, one last visit to their granddaughter’s wedding, one last concert – creating beautiful, shared memories.

Driven by the shared goal of doing good, participants in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon once again generated donations in 2025. During the Frankfurt running festival on the last weekend of October, the impressive sum of €31,886.60 was raised for the ASB Wish Ambulance Rhein-Main. Thanks in part to the record number of participants, this is the best fundraising result since the partnership began in 2017 and significantly surpasses the previous record from the anniversary year of 2023.

Race Director Jo Schindler presented the donation check on Thursday at the state headquarters of the long-standing charity partner. Jo Schindler said: “Year after year, our event continues to grow – and with it, the commitment of the participants. The new record number of participants is not only a sporting milestone, but also a strong indication of the enormous willingness to donate to our charity project. The fact that so many runners support and endorse the project shows how much it means to them – just as it does to us. This growth demonstrates the unifying and integrative power that sport can have in our society.”

The project, which is financed entirely by donations and run by volunteers, has been fulfilling final wishes in Hesse since 2017. The ASB Hesse State Association has been the charity partner of Germany’s oldest city marathon for just as long. Over the course of the partnership, a total of €163,734.83 in donations has been generated at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon for the ASB Wish Ambulance Rhein-Main and the “Wish Ambulance – Dare to Fulfill Last Wishes” project.

Ludwig Frölich, Chairman of the ASB Hessen (Workers’ Samaritan Federation): "It’s wonderful that the ASB Wish Ambulance Rhein-Main has been an official charity partner of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon for so many years and receives such exceptional support. The record result achieved so far impressively underscores how deeply this project is rooted in the running community. This commitment would not be possible without the remarkable dedication of Jo Schindler and his fantastic team – they deserve our special thanks. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the many ASB volunteers who, with their tireless efforts, help fulfill the final wishes of the terminally ill. This support is invaluable.

“It’s always a great pleasure for us to be part of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon and to support the runners in the post-race area together with our volunteers,” say Michaela Loos and Levana Clasen from the management team of the ASB Wish Ambulance Rhein-Main at ASB Hessen. “The successful collaboration with motion events is always fantastic.”