Founded 12 years ago by Luxembourg triathlete Yannick Lieners, the association Plooschter Projet has since been working to encourage as many people as possible to register as stem cell donors. With more than 17,000 registrations to date, the initiative has made a significant contribution to the fight against leukaemia. The event that took place on Saturday, 28 February at the Victor Hugo Hall was held under the banner “Save a Life – for Caroline and everyone fighting leukaemia”.
Caroline, a talented and passionate figure skater, has been battling leukaemia since 2024. The young woman is in need of support and relies on potential donors willing to register. While the campaign was inspired by her case, organisers stressed that it also represents all those affected by the disease.
Mady Elvinger-Werner, president of the Ice Skating Club in Kockelscheuer, who organised the event alongside Plooschter Project, has supported Caroline from the outset, both in her sporting career and since her diagnosis. She explained that Caroline is closely following the support being shown for her and draws strength from the solidarity shown.
Caroline’s mother, Eva, described the nationwide response as overwhelming, saying the way the country had rallied around her daughter and other leukaemia patients was extraordinary. “We’re making history”, she said.
By early afternoon, the association had already surpassed its previous record for registrations at a single event. The queue of people waiting to be tested showed no sign of shortening.
Yannick Lieners, who was himself diagnosed with leukaemia in 2014, said the turnout had exceeded expectations, with around 400 people registering during the morning alone. For him, the fight against leukaemia remains deeply personal and continues to motivate his commitment to mobilising donors.
Among those taking part were Olympic swimmer Paule Kremer and Paralympic shot put athlete Tom Habscheid, both of whom have registered as stem cell donors. Kremer explained that she first signed up years ago when Lieners fell ill, noting that knowing someone personally affected by the disease can be a powerful motivation. She added that even if one does not end up donating to a specific person, registering can still help someone in need.
Habscheid said he had done the same after a close friend became ill several years ago and has remained registered ever since.
Those involved in the campaign describe the fight against leukaemia as a team effort. Anyone who missed the event but wishes to help can find information about upcoming initiatives through Plooschter Projet or register directly at a laboratory without needing a prescription.
