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

Category: Activities

  • Awareness Matchday in Osnabrück

    Awareness Matchday in Osnabrück

    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

  • Riding the Wave into the Summer Break: Awareness Matchday at KSC

    Riding the Wave into the Summer Break: Awareness Matchday at KSC

    On May 18, 2025, our last matchday campaign of the season took place in Karlsruhe during the game against SC Paderborn. As part of this, our awareness video was shown a total of three times – twice before kickoff and once during halftime.

    Additionally, together with dedicated volunteers, we operated a booth where we provided information about ME/CFS and distributed our postcards and stickers. We were especially pleased to have the support of Rouwen Hennings and KSC legend Edgar Schmitt, aka “Euro-Eddy,” who participated in the #LemonChallengeMECFS on site. Players from KSC had already taken part via social media in advance.

    A heartfelt thank you goes to all volunteers on site and behind the scenes – without you, the implementation and organization of this campaign would not have been possible. A very special thanks goes to Karlsruher SC for giving us the opportunity to carry out our campaign with you!

    © Wochenblatt Karlsruhe: booth with helping hands
    Rouwen Hennings

  • Awareness Matchday in Babelsberg

    Awareness Matchday in Babelsberg

    On April 5, 2025, our action matchday took place during SV Babelsberg 03’s home game against Viktoria Berlin, where fans and the club impressively demonstrated that solidarity and visibility have their place in the football stadium as well.

    FI99 supported us with banners that read: “Giving the illness a face” and “Fight ME/CFS.” Engagement was also palpable off the pitch – with an information stand on the stadium grounds where visitors could donate to the ME/CFS Research Foundation and take part in the #LemonChallengeMECFS. Before the game, players from 03 had already participated on social media and nominated FC St. Pauli, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, and the band Kettcar.

    We thank everyone involved on and behind the scenes – SV Babelsberg 03, FI99, Azv03 (the inclusion initiative of 03 fans), and all volunteers. You all contributed to making ME/CFS more visible, and for that, we are endlessly grateful!

  • Awareness Matchday in Bremen

    Awareness Matchday in Bremen

    On March 15, 2025, our first major matchday campaign took place during the Bundesliga game between Werder Bremen and Borussia M’gladbach. There, we raised awareness for ME/CFS on multiple levels.

    Our awareness posters featuring the motif “Missing in the stands – lost to ME/CFS” were distributed throughout the stadium. Additionally, in cooperation with the ME/CFS Research Foundation, we operated a booth before the game where fans of both clubs could participate in the #LemonChallengeMECFS. In the pre-game program, Arndt Zeigler (stadium announcer), Leo Bittencourt (player), Oliver Hüsing (academy director), and Larissa Mühlhaus (player) also took part.

    The Bremen Fan Project supported us with banners. One banner called for “More research for ME/CFS,” while another reading “We’re thinking of you, Julian” was dedicated to our member Julian (a fan of 1. SC Göttingen 05). Our “Empty Stands” banner also made its debut.

    We thank the ME/CFS Research Foundation, Werder Bremen, the Fan Project, and all volunteers on site and behind the scenes who helped organize the matchday campaign. We are happy to have raised ME/CFS awareness in front of more than 42,000 fans and look forward to future actions—because this is only the beginning.

    © private
    © private
    © ME/CFS Research Foundation
    © ME/CFS Research Foundation
    © ME/CFS Research Foundation
    © private

  • Visiting Meppen: Raising Awareness for ME/CFS

    Visiting Meppen: Raising Awareness for ME/CFS

    On February 22, 2025, during the Regionalliga home game between SV Meppen and VfB Oldenburg, we were able to raise visibility for ME/CFS.

    A text was printed in the matchday program that highlighted the difficult fate of Elias, an 18-year-old SV Meppen fan who has been ill for three years.

    Additionally, SV Meppen, like 1. FC Kaiserslautern before them, showed our awareness video on the stadium screen.

  • Our First Awareness Campaign at the Betzenberg in Kaiserslautern

    Our First Awareness Campaign at the Betzenberg in Kaiserslautern

    On February 2, 2025, our first awareness campaign in cooperation with the ME/CFS Research Foundation took place at the Betzenberg during the 1. FC Kaiserslautern game against Preußen Münster.

    Our video was shown on the stadium screens before the game and during halftime. Additionally, the stadium announcer read a text about ME/CFS and informed the audience about the Lemon Challenge.

    During the match, we also received support from the fan scene, with a banner reading “Cure ME/CFS” displayed in front of the West Stand.

    We thank 1. FC Kaiserslautern for this opportunity and all the volunteers involved. A special thanks goes to the ME/CFS Research Foundation and to Charlotte, who, despite her illness, invested her limited energy into making this campaign happen.