Saving Lives Begins with Visibility

Some evenings are defined by their guests. Others by their message. At the Felix Burda Award ceremony on Sunday, both came together.

At Berlin’s Axica Convention Center, representatives from medicine, science, politics, media, and culture gathered to honor individuals and initiatives dedicated to making prevention more visible. The opening address by Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken added significant political weight to the event. At the heart of the evening was a central question: How can prevention become a more integral part of everyday life, and what responsibility do policymakers, society, and the media share in making that happen?

This question also shaped the political panel discussion titled “Prevention: Nice to Have or Necessary to Have?” Representatives from different political parties discussed the role prevention must play in the future of healthcare and the concrete measures needed to encourage more people to take advantage of preventive screening programs. The statistics speak for themselves: among the approximately 300 guests in attendance, statistically two individuals are likely to carry a hereditary risk of colorectal cancer, as award recipient Robert Hüneburg pointed out.

“For more than two decades, the Felix Burda Award has publicly recognized around 170 award recipients whose commitment to fighting colorectal cancer might otherwise have received attention only within specialist communities,” said Heidrun Thaiss, Director Medicine & Science at the Felix Burda Foundation. “It has evolved into Germany’s most successful prevention award in terms of media impact, standing for visibility, networking, and recognition in a field where education preserves health and outreach saves lives.”

Part of Burda’s DNA

Since its establishment by Christa Maar and Hubert Burda in 2001, the Felix Burda Foundation has pursued a clear mission: to raise awareness of colorectal cancer prevention and inform people before the disease develops. Each year, the Felix Burda Award brings this commitment to life by providing a prominent platform for research, education, and social engagement.

For Burda, this commitment goes far beyond corporate social responsibility. In her opening remarks, Elisabeth Varn, Co-CEO of BurdaVerlag and Deputy Chairwoman of the Advisory Board of the Felix Burda Foundation, emphasized the shared mission of the publishing house and the foundation:

“Health is one of BurdaVerlag’s core journalistic competencies and firmly embedded in the DNA of many of our brands. That is why the Felix Burda Foundation is such a natural fit for us. For years, it has demonstrated how much positive change can be achieved when prevention receives the attention it deserves.”

The evening underscored a clear message: effective colorectal cancer prevention requires the collaboration of many stakeholders — medical research, stronger healthcare structures, targeted communication, influential public voices, and decisive political action.

The Winners of the Felix Burda Awards 2026

This year’s award recipients demonstrated the many forms successful prevention can take. In the “Commitment” category, the jury honored the Vienna-based campaign “Get Your Colon Checked – Save Lives” (Darm checken – Leben retten). Supported by prominent ambassadors and clear messaging, the initiative raises awareness of colorectal cancer screening and reaches people where education can have the greatest impact.

The award in the “Medicine & Science” category went to an interdisciplinary team pioneering new approaches to the early identification of Lynch syndrome. The systematic detection of this hereditary form of colorectal cancer has the potential to benefit many patients and their families in the future.

Honorary Felix Recipient Delivers a Powerful Appeal to the Health Minister

One of the evening’s most moving moments was the presentation of the Honorary Felix Award to Ronja Fleckenstein. The Munich-based designer was diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer at just 26 years of age. Today, she uses her personal story to raise awareness, connect patients, and encourage especially younger generations to engage with prevention and early detection.

Accepting her award, she used the opportunity to make a heartfelt appeal to the Federal Minister of Health. Fleckenstein dedicated her acceptance speech to the petition advocating for the “Right to Be Forgotten,” which has already been signed by around 52,000 people.

“And one of those voices is mine,” she said.

She reminded the audience that approximately 4.5 million people in Germany are living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. More than 60 percent are considered long-term survivors. Yet, as she emphasized, “being medically cured must also mean being legally cured.”

According to Fleckenstein, individuals who are medically regarded as cured often continue to face discrimination years after their illness. They may struggle to obtain mortgages and other loans, secure insurance coverage, or even be allowed to adopt children. In a courageous and direct appeal to the minister, she called for change. To a standing ovation and visibly emotional audience, Ronja Fleckenstein accepted her Honorary Felix Award.

Prevention as a Guiding Principle

Another notable moment of the evening was the presentation of the Milestone Award to Klaus Holetschek, now Chairman of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bavarian State Parliament. He was recognized primarily for renaming his ministry during his tenure as Bavarian Minister of Health to the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care and Prevention — a symbolic but significant step in elevating prevention as a central pillar of healthcare policy.

Images from the event are available via the following link: Felix Burda Award 2026.