Logo der Empty Stands Spendenliga: Person, die gerade einen Fußball Volley nimmt. Dazu der Titel "Spendenliga" und das Logo von Empty Stands.

Author: Julian

  • Awareness Matchday in Heidenheim

    Awareness Matchday in Heidenheim

    On March 7, 2026, 1. FC Heidenheim hosted an awareness matchday for ME/CFS sufferers during their game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. We were also present with a booth, which was managed on our behalf by a team of volunteers.

    The awareness campaign featured an article in the stadium magazine as well as an interview with a relative of a person affected. We were particularly delighted by the walk-on activity, where the children entered the pitch wearing awareness shirts. These shirts featured our logo alongside the ME/CFS Research Foundation logo, as well as our motto “Missing from the Stands – Lost to ME/CFS”.

    Additionally, our awareness video was shown on the stadium screen. Sponsors also supported the Awareness Matchday by donating advertising space for ME/CFS-related content. We would like to thank 1. FC Heidenheim and the sponsors, especially AOK, for organizing this event. A special thank you also goes to the volunteers who represented us.

    © 1. FC Heidenheim
  • Awareness Matchday in Sandhausen

    Awareness Matchday in Sandhausen

    On February 12, 2026, we were guests at SV Sandhausen. Our information stand allowed us to reach many people once again and raise awareness about our illnesses. Additionally, Charlotte gave a stadium interview before the match started. The ultra group “Szene 1916” also supported us with a banner. Before the game, an interview was published on the SV Sandhausen website in which Charlotte talked about us and her life with ME/CFS.

    We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the fantastic support from the club and to all the helpers on-site. A very special thank you goes to Denis from “Szene 1916“, who organized this campaign together with us. It was an extraordinary example of what solidarity with seriously ill people in our society should look like.

    © SVS
    © SVS
  • SV Sandhausen: Szene 1916

    SV Sandhausen: Szene 1916

    group: Szene 1916, text: “ME/CFS besiegen – Forschung ausbauen!” (“Defeat ME/CFS – expand research!”)

  • Dina Orschmann

    Dina Orschmann

    We are very happy to announce Dina Orschmann as an ambassador.

    In her Instagram post, she draws attention to the extreme contrast between a “normal” everyday life and the reality experienced by many people with ME/CFS. While she like most people recover from exertion, this recovery process (among other things) is disrupted in those affected by ME/CFS.

    Health is an incredibly important foundation for me – and yet I take it for granted far too often.[…]
    I am grateful to be an ambassador for Empty Stands, to give this disease a little more visibility. […]
    I take you with me to the stadium in my heart every match day.

    Dina Orschmann, professional footballer at 1. FC Union Berlin

    Many fan groups and several clubs have already supported us, but having a professional footballer as an ambassador is invaluable for our goals. We are delighted that Dina is helping us to raise awareness of this important issue.

  • Wuppertaler SV: Ultras Wuppertal

    Wuppertaler SV: Ultras Wuppertal

    group: Ultras Wuppertal , text: “Dringend muss mehr Forschung her, denn in der Kurve fehlt heut wer #CURE ME/CFS” (“Urgently, more research is needed, because someone is missing in the stands today #CURE ME/CFS”)

  • Succesful Start to the New Year: Awareness Matchday in Wuppertal

    Succesful Start to the New Year: Awareness Matchday in Wuppertal

    On January 24, 2026, our first awareness matchday of this year took place at Wuppertaler SV during the game against SSVg Velbert. At our information stand, WSV fans could learn about ME/CFS and get our solidarity T-shirt in exchange for a donation. Behind our information stand, we also prepared a small exhibition about our illnesses and Empty Stands. In addition to donations by fans on matchday, we also received the cup donations, which will benefit the ME/CFS Research Foundation.

    Furthermore, during halftime we had the opportunity to conduct an interview in which we talked about the realities of people who are mildly and severely ill and communicated the need for research, care, and recognition.

    We would like to extend our thanks to WSV, the fan council, and the fan project Wuppertal, as well as to all the volunteers on site, for the successful awareness matchday. We are already looking forward to the next ones. We have a lot planned for this year!

  • 1. FC Union Berlin: Eiserne Kirsch Kolonne

    1. FC Union Berlin: Eiserne Kirsch Kolonne

    group: Eiserne Kirsch Kolonne, text: “Rote Karte für Psychosomatik! #CURE MECFS“ (“Red Card for psychosomatics! #CURE MECFS“)

    We also made a sticker out of this banner.

  • Friends of an affected person

    Friends of an affected person

    texts: „ME/CFS-Forschung unterstützen“ (“Support ME/CFS research”), „Support #emptystands“, „ME/CFS anerkennen!“ (“Recognize ME/CFS!”), „CURE ME/CFS: Betroffenen glauben!“ (“CURE ME/CFS: Believe patients!”)

  • Disability Pride

    Disability Pride

    • sticker as PDF
    • sticker as PNG

  • Awareness Matchday in Hamburg

    Awareness Matchday in Hamburg

    On November 30th, our next Awareness Matchday took place during the match between Hamburger SV and VFB Stuttgart. As part of this, we informed visitors about ME/CFS at an information booth. We were also able to conduct a stadium interview before the game. In collaboration with the ME/CFS Research Foundation, we also launched a fundraising campaign for this match day. At a designated spot (“Ankerplatz”), we and the fans had the opportunity to leave wishes about what should change in the way our diseases are handled in the society.

    We are particularly thankful that we were able to carry out the first-ever team walk-out action as a sign for ME/CFS patients. The HSV captain for this game, Nicolas Capaldo, walked onto the field with a pair of shoes instead of a walk-out child to symbolize the absence of children affected by ME/CFS. This was explained by DAZN and thus also drew the attention of television viewers to the campaign.

    We would like to thank all the helpers on site, the ME/CFS Research Foundation for co-planning the action, Nordtribüne e. V. and the Fan Project for the support on site, the Hamburger SV for making this action matchday possible and all the media outlets which made our awareness matchday visible.

    © Matthias Scharf
    © Matthias Scharf
    © Matthias Scharf
    © Matthias Scharf
    © Matthias Scharf