ANNIVERSARY GALA CLOSING THE 25TH HARLEY DAVIDSON CHARITY TOUR
With words of welcome from Federal President Dr. Alexander Van Der Bellen, the anniversary gala of the Harley-Davidson Charity Tour (HDCT) was opened on November 12th in the Vienna City Hall under the motto “We are Legend”. And the motto says it all, because the ladies and gentlemen, the The people behind the organization are actually now legends.The classic, legendary Harley Davidson brand with the casual biker image as a flagship speaks for itself and, in combination with the HDCT heart mission to help children with muscle disorders and their families, ensures a charity experience , which is unparalleled.
Thanks to a successful tour in the summer of 2022, which saw two particularly important tour stops and cooperations with the Mörbisch Lake Festival and the European Bike Week at Lake Faaker See in Carinthia, as well as thanks to the numerous private donors and guests at the gala, a final donation amount of €284,260 to be announced. These donations flow directly and unbureaucratically to children and their families affected by muscle diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy. A large part of the donations will be forwarded to affected families via the emergency aid fund together with Mag. Michael Thaler, Managing Director of Licht ins Dunkel.
The “legendary” motto of the anniversary gala was underlined in many ways by performances and surprising appearances, such as the live appearance of Bill Davidson, the great-grandson of the Harley-Davidson founder, directly from America. The highlights of the evening included, in addition to a film trailer of Christian Guttmann’s 25th charity tour, the two performances by the great “Udo Tribute Band”, personally authorized by Udo Jürgens, under the direction of Gert Prix, who spontaneously also recorded a song with Mörbisch- Intendant Alfons Haider performed live on the gala stage as well as the powerful performance of the percussion band “Mit Leib und Seele” by Klaus Lippitsch.
„The Harley-Davidson charity project makes an important contribution to research into muscular dystrophy and to supporting affected children and young people. We are very pleased that we are still able to do this so successfully over 24 years later“, emphasizes the President of the Harley-Davidson Charity Fund, Peter Reitzl, and at the same time thanks his two colleagues on the Board, Vice-President Dieter Baier and Treasurer Günther Ruf for their support. The fund was able to successfully complete more than 50 projects this year and thus help affected families directly. Among other things, therapies, voice control computers, car conversions and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms were financed.
In addition, as part of the gala, “Charity Awards” were presented to some active supporters inside and outside the organization. Among others, Dieter Posteiner (Festival Director) and Alfons Haider (General Manager) and the entire Seefestspiele Mörbisch, who became active and valuable supporters of the cause, were honored.
„On the occasion of our anniversary, we were able to honor the great commitment of individuals who put a lot of strength, energy and work into the service of a good cause, the support of children and young people with muscular disorders,” sums up Peter Reitzel, before the success of the HDCT 2022 was once again really celebrated at one of the big after-show parties.