Rudi Reese

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Rudi Reese (* around 1911; † in May 1976, actually: Rudolf Reese ) was a German innkeeper. He became known for his extensive charity marches for needy children in Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

Life

Run by Rudi Reese local The Little Museum in Linden-Nord , Grote street corner Ahlemer road
Detail of the interior of the Small Museum

Reese grew up without his parents; his father was killed in the battle of Verdun. He learned to be a coppersmith and armorer. He began his first charity march in 1957. In 1960 he hiked 7000 kilometers through more than 100 European cities to collect donations in money and in kind. In August 1963 he set out for the same purpose on a 1,300-kilometer route to Verdun .

His unusual commitment to children aroused public interest. In 1963, American President John F. Kennedy invited him to the White House , attended an audience of the Pope and met Grace Kelly . In May 1964, he traveled to New York to walk 6,000 kilometers through port cities on the East Coast and the Midwest and collect donations there. He carried a miner's lamp from the Lengede mine disaster with him and a document signed by 14 survivors of the disaster. In July 1965 he set out for India to collect 60,000 addresses from children in the home with the support of the government and to distribute them in Germany. By this time he is said to have already covered 28,000 kilometers on charity marches. During the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968 , he traveled to Mexico to collect donations and sponsorships for orphans and orphans. It is reported that at this point in time he had covered a total of 120,000 kilometers on foot and gave addresses and sponsorships to 140,000 children in the home.

His left leg had to be amputated in December 1971 due to circulatory disorders and gangrene. In 1973, at the age of 62, he had to stop his charity marches after problems with his right leg arose and this could only be saved by an operation.

Rudi Reese ran the restaurant Das kleine Museum in Linden-Nord (Hanover) , which he decorated with memorabilia from all over the world, including a stuffed crocodile. He was considered the "Linden Original" and called himself Uncle Rudi.

Rudolf Reese was married; he died in May 1976.

Web links

Commons : Das kleine Museum (Hannover)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Hamburger Abendblatt, August 6, 1963
  2. ↑ a b c d He walked too far. Jennings Daily News, May 30, 1973, 11
  3. ↑ a b Hamburger Abendblatt, May 22, 1976
  4. ↑ a b He had heart but no luck. Boca Raton News, June 17, 1973 Online
  5. ^ Muscatine Journal, May 2, 1964
  6. ↑ Toledo Blade, April 30, 1964 Online, with picture
  7. ^ "Uncle Rudi" is marching again. Hamburger Abendblatt, July 5, 1965
  8. ^ Welt am Sonntag, June 30, 1968, p. 2
  9. ↑ Crippled Crusader Looks Again To Quest For Kids Avalanche Journal, May 31, 1973, p. 24
  10. ↑ Rudi Reese Had Everything Going His Way Except Luck. Cumberland News, Jun 7, 1973, 10
personal data
SURNAME Reese, Rudi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Reese, Rudolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German innkeeper, charity runner
DATE OF BIRTH around 1911
DATE OF DEATH May 1976