About every 100th child in Germany is born with a heart defect. However, the vast majority can be saved with an operation. But what about El Salvador, Laos or Mongolia? There, operations are often not possible, and many children die. The association “Kinderherzen retten e.V.” from Freiburg helps in such emergency situations. Since 2002, it has made it its mission to give children from medically less developed countries a chance with an operation at the University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen. The association has already been able to save around 260 children from all over the world. However, it is dependent on donations. In this context, Europa-Park and the Mack family play a very important role. Time and again, they organize charity events and since the foundation of the association, park boss Roland Mack acts as its patron. “The Mack name alone is an important drawing card. The many donations collected at Europa-Park make operations possible for us,” explains Professor Friedhelm Beyersdorf, founder of the project. Europa-Park even plays a therapeutic role. Because all the children are invited to go to the park after their operation. “They recover particularly quickly there,” says Beyersdorf.