On September 20, 2025, our action matchday took place at VfL Osnabrück‘s match against Erzgebirge Aue. For me personally, it was the long-awaited return to Bremer Brücke – 847 days after the legendary promotion (90+6) on May 27, 2023, I was able to watch a VfL match live for the first time again. Together with seven volunteers from family, regional self-help groups, and other affected individuals, we drew attention to the lack of recognition and insufficient research surrounding ME/CFS. Already in the run-up to the action, we received much encouragement and support from regional media, the fan project and fan liaison officer, the fan department, as well as from the active fan scene, especially through the podcasts “steil und schnell” and “Ostkurvenchor”, which actively mentioned our campaign in their contributions.
On match day itself, interested fans could inform themselves about ME/CFS at an information stand between the North and East stands and engage in dialogue with our team. Additionally, donations were collected here for both “Empty Stands” and the “ME/CFS Research Foundation“.
Inside the stadium, our banners drew attention to our absence from stadiums as well as to our projects “Donation League” and the solidarity shirt (which could be pre-ordered until September 21, 2025) as ways to support the ME/CFS Research Foundation. Because only with sustainable biomedical research will it be possible in the medium to long term to return to our seats and stands in stadiums and in all other areas of life.
Furthermore, a brief interview was conducted with the stadium announcers during the pre-match program. Here we were particularly able to emphasize that we are acting on behalf of those who have become bedridden, “voiceless”, and invisible due to their illness, and that the perspective of caring and nursing relatives must also be taken into consideration. Besides, a sensational sum of 2,766 € was raised through cup deposit donations. Finally, the helpers were able to watch the match together from the North Stand in beautiful summer weather, which ended 3-1 for VfL.
For me personally, both the action day and the “crash” in the days following once again painfully demonstrated how close and yet far away a stadium visit with all its emotions, impressions, and social contacts is for those affected by ME/CFS.
We thank from the bottom of our hearts all donors, all volunteers, the fan project, the fan liaison officer, the fan department, the stadium announcers, as well as those responsible for the podcasts “steil und schnell” and “Ostkurvenchor” and the media representatives who gave a voice to those affected by ME/CFS and their relatives.
Author: Sonja
