Spanish tenor Jose Carreras collected 6.4 million euros ($8.3 million) in a televised gala held in Germany for the foundation that he directs and which is dedicated to the fight against the bone-marrow cancer known as leukemia, event organizers said Friday.

Viewers contributed that amount during the 17th presentation of Carreras’ traditional pre-Christmas gala, which aired Thursday night on Germany’s public television channel ZDF from Leipzig.

“Our goal is to make leukemia curable as soon as possible for always and for everyone,” said the Spanish tenor on TV, who in 1988 was diagnosed with that illness and created a foundation to fight it once he was cured.

Carreras and German actress Desiree Nosbusch moderated the gala, among whose guests were predominantly German celebs like singers Peter Maffay, Andrea Berg, Sarah Connor and the Rosenstolz band.

Carreras also had some famous Germans lend a hand, including ex-boxing champ Henri Maske and singer Max Raabe, in manning the phones and noting down the donations of viewers who called in.