Grünenthal brings the ‘Kinder-Lebens-Lauf’ to Aachen – a powerful statement in support of children’s hospice

Aachen, 13 July 2026. By organising its own staging of the 2026 Kinder-Lebens-Lauf, Grünenthal has today sent a clear signal of its support for critically ill children and their families. Around 150 employees of the Aachen-based pharmaceutical company accompanied the ‘Engels-Fackel’ (Angel’s Torch), which is being carried symbolically across Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland over a distance of around 7,000 kilometres from April to October, from Aachen’s market square to the Grünenthal campus – an expression of solidarity and social responsibility aimed at raising awareness of the importance of children’s hospice care.

At the launch event in the market square, Aachen Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of the initiative: “Aachen has been a pioneering region in hospice and palliative care for many years. Many of the approaches developed here have set standards across Germany. I am therefore all the more delighted that, thanks to Grünenthal’s commitment, Aachen is part of this initiative and that the importance of children’s hospice care is being brought into even sharper focus today.”

With this initiative in Aachen, Grünenthal is building on its long-standing commitment to hospice and palliative care. The Grünenthal Foundation for Palliative Medicine was established in 1998, enabling the creation of Germany’s first Chair of Palliative Medicine at Aachen University Hospital in 2003. For many years, the company has also been the main sponsor of the Aachen Hospice Conference, a nationwide congress attracting up to 400 participants each year to discuss current issues in hospice and palliative care. Its participation in the ‘Kinder-Lebens-Lauf’ further underlines this ongoing commitment.

“Promoting high-quality hospice and palliative care, and thus ensuring dignified end-of-life care, is a key priority for Grünenthal,” explained Dr Uli Brödl, Chief Scientific Officer at Grünenthal. “Children are often overlooked in this context, as many people associate hospice and palliative care with the final stages of life for older people, for example at the end of a cancer diagnosis. The ‘Kinder-Lebens-Lauf’ is so important because it highlights the fact that seriously ill children and their families also need reliable support, attention and social solidarity. I am proud that, with a large team here today, we can send a strong message about this important issue.”

The Federal Association of Children’s Hospices (Bundesverband Kinderhospiz) also emphasises the importance of the initiative: “The Kinder-Lebens-Lauf is Germany’s largest inclusion campaign,” emphasised Dr Natalie Schwägerl, Head of “Support & Get Involved”. “We are very grateful to have Grünenthal as a major sponsor by our side. The company is actively involved and opens doors for us – both internally and externally. The more often people come into contact with children’s hospice work, the more natural it becomes to engage with the issue. And the better we can demonstrate that children’s hospice work is not just about sadness, but above all about supporting people through life.”

Following a brief discussion and the symbolic handover of the ‘Engels-Fackel’ (Angel’s Torch), Aachen’s Lord Mayor gave the starting signal for the run. Around 150 Grünenthal employees then covered the roughly six-kilometre stage to the Grünenthal Campus, where they were welcomed by colleagues. From there, the torch will be carried to its next destination in Overath, near Cologne, the following day.

As the umbrella organisation for outpatient and inpatient children’s hospice facilities in Germany, the Federal Association of Children’s Hospices (Bundesverband Kinderhospiz e.V.) also acts as a point of contact for politicians, the business community, the academic world, health insurance funds and donors. It campaigns for better framework conditions for children’s hospice work and is committed to ensuring that affected families are brought out of social isolation.

The ‘Kinder-Lebens-Lauf’ is regarded as Germany’s largest inclusion campaign for children’s hospice care. Along the route, hospices, organisations, companies, supporters and numerous volunteers take part with their own initiatives and pass the ‘Engels-Fackel’ (Angel’s Torch) on from station to station. More information on www.kinder-lebens-lauf.de

Matt Crabb
Head of Global Communications (Interim)
Grünenthal GmbH
52099 Aachen

+44 7813 210392
media@grunenthal.com