Major event for cancer prevention

Exercise connects - and keeps you healthy. This is the central message that will be brought to life on Saturday, 13 June 2026 at a major cancer prevention event taking place simultaneously at five university locations in Bavaria. In Würzburg, the "We Move Bavaria" day of action initiated by the Bavarian Centre for Cancer Research (BZKF) will take place on the grounds of the University Sports Centre on Unterer Hublandweg.

Supported by regional sports clubs, visitors can look forward to a broad participatory programme from 10.00 to 16.00 - from taekwondo and dancing, yoga and ball sports to fitness training and trampolining. Many of the programmes are barrier-free. Numerous stands will also provide information about health programmes and self-help groups.

Reducing the risk of cancer, increasing well-being

The major event is organised by Würzburg University Hospital (UKW) and Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU). Claudia Löffler, Professor of Integrative Oncological Medicine, Gabriele Nelkenstock, the UKW's self-help officer, and Dr Andreas Petko, Coordinator of General University Sports at JMU, are in charge of the event.

"Regular exercise has been proven to reduce not only the risk of cancer, but also cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis, for example. Not to mention the fact that it increases general well-being and joy of life," emphasises Claudia Löffler. And Gabriele Nelkenstock adds: "We want to show that exercise is helpful at any pace and at any level of ability. Children, young people, families and senior citizens, sporty and less sporty people, healthy people and people with illnesses or physical limitations - at our event, everyone will find something suitable to get active."

The action day also includes free health checks and the opportunity for stem cell typing. For the latter, a team from the Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Haemotherapy at the UKW will be on site to inform visitors about the importance and process of a stem cell donation. If interested, a painless cheek swab can be taken for typing and inclusion in the UKW's stem cell donor database, the Netzwerk Hoffnung.

Opening with Health Minister Judith Gerlach

The event is under the patronage of Minister President Markus Söder and will be opened at the Würzburg University Sports Centre at 10.00 a.m. by Bavaria's Minister of Health, Judith Gerlach.

Details of the programme for the free day of action can be found at go.uniwue.de/wbb