Guido Maria Kretschmer: With this fate, tears came to him

Guido Maria Kretschmer (56) has been involved in charitable causes for many years. The non-profit organization DKMS Life, which among other things offers cosmetic seminars for women with cancer, is particularly close to the heart of the fashion designer. In view of the corona pandemic, your annual fundraising gala Dreamball became a virtual Dreamday again this year. DKMS Life used the digital press event moderated by Barbara Schöneberger (47) to provide information about their work for cancer patients and the commitment of their supporters and sponsors. For Kretschmer “a nice alternative, as it gives us the opportunity to reach many people digitally”. In an interview, the popular designer talks about his projects that are close to his heart and his personal people who are close to his heart.

In view of the corona pandemic, the Dreamball unfortunately did not take place in the usual form this year either. How sad are you about that?

Guido Maria Kretschmer: I am very sad about it, especially because the Dreamballl also generates funds and donations that we urgently need for the important work of DKMS Life. And it’s also a good time to get together. In addition to the people who get involved, naturally also the patients. This is what distinguishes this ball from many other events. It is all the better that DKMS Life has created the alternative of the Dreamday and that we have the opportunity to reach many people digitally. There were some people on site: ambassadors, supporters like L’Oréal Paris, patients, and the large crowd could follow everything online. So the beautiful and important tradition will be carried on until, hopefully, everything can take place again next year.

You have been committed to DKMS Life for many years. How much does Corona make social projects difficult?

Kretschmer: That was very difficult. The patient programs at DKMS Life have a lot to do with presence and of course that was not possible. Therefore, a new option had to be found in the form of online seminars, which thankfully worked. Nevertheless, this human contact is very important and this also includes the direct exchange with the patients. But DKMS Life managed to do that well and continued to actively support those affected. But I also know that it was very difficult for many to get through their treatments in this pandemic. That’s why we launched the DKMS Life campaign with the important message “Cancer doesn’t take a break” – which was exactly the same.

Many prominent women have been or are open about their cancer and want to encourage them. What was your particular fate?

Kretschmer: Prominent women are just as much women as others. I also know of some whose illness the public is unaware of. Fates all affect me equally. At a DKMS Life patient seminar, I was particularly impressed by a young woman: a young mother who found out after giving birth that she had cancer or a tumor in the breast that was highly aggressive. A week later she was also abandoned by her actually future husband. He said to her that he was sorry, he had imagined life to be so different. He was a bad person, but he wanted a healthy wife and child and that was not part of his plan. I was shocked. With this fate, tears just came to me. She has to keep fighting and go through it all on her own. I have the greatest respect for this woman who even hugged me at that moment.

You are also involved in many other social projects. Which are currently particularly important to you?

Kretschmer: That is definitely our L’Oréal Paris “Stand up” campaign. I am very happy to be a part of it, since I am a woman-loving person. It’s so important to stand up against violence and all the negative moments women go through. To show solidarity and give women the tools to say “no” when problems arise. Then the German Stroke Aid is also very important to me. Liz Mohn’s rose ball takes place here on a regular basis, which I like a lot because you can feel that these are people who like to support. Everyone who buys a ticket there spends a lot of money on it – and that goes 1: 1 to the organizations. I am always proud and happy to be able to do something like this.

Corona in particular has led many to rethink health issues. Have you dared to make changes too?

Kretschmer: No, I didn’t. I haven’t changed anything because I used to be reflective. I knew beforehand that time was precious and that it was important to be careful. In any case, it has sharpened my awareness that our life depends on the little things that can come around the corner, large and massive. I think that was a wake up call for me and the whole world. Since then I have just known that life hangs by a thin thread and that there was no escape from this pandemic, which was and still is everywhere. This has never happened before in my time.

Many marriages are put to the test during Corona, how do you as a couple get through the pandemic?

Kretschmer: We got through the pandemic well because we just stand together. I always knew that I could have a good rest at home with Frank. That is of course very lucky. This situation separated many of them because they felt that they actually cannot be together, but rather lead a parallel life. On the other hand, there have been many Corona couples who have found each other during that time. I don’t know how, but they agreed to it. What some have experienced over many years, these couples have experienced in this pandemic time in fast forward and built an incredible closeness to each other.

You celebrated your third wedding anniversary at the beginning of September. How did you spend it, are such anniversaries important to you?

Kretschmer: Not to me at all. My mother, my father and my sister called us and then I knew it too and said: “Frank, the time has come!” I mostly forget that because I don’t care and love shouldn’t only be celebrated on an anniversary. But I am glad that I have enough people around me who always remind me and then celebrate it.