February 20, 2026 - Fundraiser for the Gruber Family

Stronger Together in Tough Times: "Sole Felsen Welt" Spa Resort Donates €6,000 to a Young Family!

The Sole Felsen Welt Gmünd is supporting the Gruber family from Eichberg in the Waldviertel region with a donation of €6,000. This donation is intended to help ease the financial burden on the young family following a serious tragedy.

On November 26, 2025, the Gruber family from Eichberg in the Waldviertel region suffered an immeasurable loss: Bernadette “Bezi” Gruber passed away at the age of just 37 following a serious illness. Within the Fitness Union Waldviertel community, she was known as the mother of two dedicated young gymnasts—Emelie (9) and Lilly (7)—and was part of a strong club community. She is survived by her husband Erwin (36) and the two young girls, who must now grow up without their mother. The sad news has deeply shaken not only her family and the club, but the entire region.

In addition to the emotional strain, such a tragedy also brings significant financial challenges. An ongoing mortgage, rising fixed costs, and the loss of an income present the young family with enormous challenges. If, on top of that, it is no longer possible to work full-time in order to be there for the children, the situation can quickly become a threat to their very survival. For this reason, a donation account has been set up to at least provide financial support to Erwin and his daughters. Numerous supporters, as well as the association, have already pledged their help and made a contribution—as has Sole Felsen Welt.

As part of its annual “Sole Fundraiser,” Sole Felsen Welt donates to a charitable cause Sole Felsen Welt year. For every admission to the Sole Felsen pool Sauna between December 1 and December 31, 2025, ten cents were set aside for a good cause. A total of 34,600 pool and sauna guests were welcomed in Gmünd in December, resulting in a donation total of no less than €3,460.

However, Managing Director Bernhard Strohmeier decided to increase the amount to €6,000.

“When we heard about the Gruber family’s situation, we knew right away that we wanted to do more than just hand over the calculated amount. Behind this story are two young children and a husband who lost their mother and wife far too soon. It is precisely in moments like these that we see how important solidarity is—especially in our region. By rounding up the amount to 6,000 euros, we want to send a clear message of solidarity,” said Managing Director Bernhard Strohmeier.

The donation is intended to provide financial relief and a sense of security to the young family from Eichberg during this difficult time. This tragic loss demonstrates how quickly personal circumstances can change dramatically and how important regional solidarity is in such moments. Special thanks go to all the pool and sauna guests whose visits in December made a significant contribution to raising the donation total.