Sport, team spirit and solidarity at the Düsseldorf charity event
In unison: deuka teams at the 2026 rowing regatta
17.09.2026 – On 5 September 2026, Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen became a hub for sport, team spirit and solidarity. Three deuka teams also took part in the anniversary edition of ‘Düsseldorf am Ruder für Menschen mit Krebs’. Due to low water levels, the regatta was transformed into an ergometer championship using stationary rowing machines – but this did nothing to dampen the spirits. Amidst a mix of ambition, laughter and creative outfits, it became clear that together, we can achieve a great deal. Find out more…
The boats were actually due to glide across the water in Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen on 5 September. However, the historically low water level meant it was not possible to plan a regatta in the harbour with any certainty. Consequently, the competition was organised at short notice as a networked ergometer championship. An ergometer championship is a competition held on land using stationary rowing ergometers.
Despite low water levels: deuka carries on rowing on the ergometer
This did not alter the sporting challenge: the race format remained similar to that of a competition on the water, and the teams were judged together. For the deuka teams, this meant transferring the experience gained from training on Lake Unterbach and at the Germania Rowing Club’s boathouse to the ergometers.
However, the unfamiliar situation did nothing to dampen the good atmosphere. On the contrary: with plenty of commitment, determination and fun, the participants turned the regatta day into a special shared experience.
Frederico Schwartz, Head of Raw Materials Optimisation & Team Captain ‘deuka’“The Ergo Championship was a bit of a novelty, but our teams rose to the challenge well and took part with great dedication. For us, the focus was not just on the results, but also on training together and supporting a good cause.”
Three deuka teams show their commitment
deuka was represented by the teams‘deuKajüte’,‘deuKapitän’ and‘Die deuka-Optimischer’.All three teams rose to the challenge and took to the start line with great commitment. The results were all very impressive:
● The“Die deuka-Optimischer”team, comprising Matthias Bollermann, Blazhe Brndevski, Dominik de Frenne and Christian Lange, finished 4th in the men’s advanced class.
●‘deuKapitän’, comprising Lukas Koschitzki, Andre Schleeberger, Elisabeth Ockermann and Sascha Reul, came fourth in the men’s beginners’ class.
●“deuKajüte”, comprising Anton Ahrweiler, Muhammet Aydin, Frederico Schwartz and Michael Winkler, came 10th in the men’s advanced class.
Aside from the placings, it was the team spirit that counted most of all. The three teams represented deuka on the sporting stage and demonstrated how cross-departmental solidarity can be evident even outside the day-to-day working environment.
A regatta for people with cancer
‘Düsseldorf at the Helm for people with cancer’ is more than just a sporting event. The charity regatta combines sporting competition with social engagement. The net proceeds go to the North Rhine-Westphalia Cancer Society (Krebsgesellschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V.), which, amongst other things, runs cancer counselling centres and support services for those affected and their families.
In 2026, the event took place for the tenth time. According to the organiser, around 250,000 euros have already been raised for the work of the North Rhine-Westphalia Cancer Society in recent years. The anniversary edition also drew attention to the consequences of climate change: falling water levels threaten water sports and, consequently, the staging of future regattas in the Medienhafen.
Key points at a glance
- Charity rowing regatta for people with cancer: The event on 5 September 2026 supported the work of the North Rhine-Westphalia Cancer Society (Krebsgesellschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V.).
- Ergometer championship instead of a water regatta: Due to low water levels, the competition was held on networked rowing ergometers.
- Three deuka teams took part: The teams ‘deuKajüte’, ‘deuKapitän’ and ‘Die deuka-Optimischer’ represented deuka in the competition.
- Sporting commitment and good results: ‘deuKapitän’ and ‘Die deuka-Optimischer’ both finished in 4th place; ‘deuKajüte’ came 10th.
- Joint training and team spirit: Colleagues prepared together and took the unfamiliar conditions in their stride.
- An anniversary with social significance: The regatta took place for the tenth time in 2026, combining sport, community and social commitment.
