Nominated for the 2024 Culture Prize: Rainer Hagner

I founded the Hagner marathon team 20 years ago, which is deliberately not a club so that we don't have to slow ourselves down in our search for solutions and results due to administrative requirements. In over twenty years, I have completed countless marathons (including half-distances). These activities have been used to raise funds. As a result, a remarkable five-figure sum has been added to the account of the municipal children's aid fund.

Next year will see the tenth edition of the Felsenkirche Treppenlauf, which has become a brand throughout Germany. The race has a unique flair and is probably the only one in Germany to run through a castle vault. The excellent organization is highly praised by local runners and also national starters. This recognition is naturally also spread by word of mouth in the home regions of the athletes in favor of our city.

During the preparation period, a running group of up to 30 people has established itself, who meet once a week for the run. As part of the preparation, I clean the paths along the route, remove obstacles and clear away garbage in order to offer our visitors a great and unreservedly positive running experience. Of course, the walkers also benefit from this.

I do all this out of love for my home town. I would also like to point out that none of this would be possible without the support of my beloved wife Ilonka and many energetic helpers. They also deserve the highest recognition.

What drives me is my commitment to my beloved Idar-Oberstein. This commitment has a long tradition, which is not exclusively but predominantly related to my love of sport. Sport connects people and brings them together. Sport promotes team spirit and is therefore an important factor in social coexistence. I have always tried to transfer and establish this in our home town. Whether I have succeeded in this is for others to decide.