Category: Linktree

  • Awareness Matchday in Hannover

    Awareness Matchday in Hannover

    Friday evening – floodlights – 49,000 stadium visitors – SOLD OUT. Never before has one of our campaigns taken place in front of so many spectators. Perfect conditions for a top-class match between Hannover 96 and Schalke 04, as well as for our next matchday campaign, which was carried out as part of the nationwide “Day of Invisible Disabilities.”

    In the run-up to the match, 96-fan Sina, daughter of someone affected by ME/CFS, and Anna from our organizing team visited the podcast “Vorwärts nach weit”. Additionally, 96-fan Meike, a long-time visitor of the North Stand and ME/CFS sufferer, was interviewed on the club’s homepage. On matchday itself, the organizing team was supported by five volunteers from Hannover and Essen, from the Lost Voices Foundation, and by Thomas Wheeler from “Deutschlandfunk Kultur”.

    We set up am information booth in front of the stadium with our posters. There, we engaged in conversations with many fans and some international guests about ME/CFS in the hours before the kickoff. We were also able to collect donations for the ME/CFS Research Foundation and for our further campaigns. During the pre-match program, our awareness video and parts from the interview with Meike were shown on the video screens. Furthermore, a member of the organizing team was interviewed on the coaching bench about our engagement and ways to support us – absolutely goosebump-inducing moments.

    We were particularly impressed by the awareness team “Das Ufer”. They were very friendly, interested, and appreciative toward us. We were provided with water, tea, and coffee. Beyond that, we would like to thank the Fan Project Hannover, Juri Geddert (CSR Manager for Corporate Responsibility and Project Work), “Rote Kurve” for the donations from sales of the “Sticker Mix” bags, our volunteers, the podcast “Vorwärts nach weit”, Thomas Wheeler from “Deutschlandfunk Kultur” for the media coverage of the Awareness Matchday, as well as all fans who encouraged us in various ways, donated, and contributed to making the campaign day a success. A very special thank you goes to Sina and Maike, who shared their personal experiences in advance during media appearances. Because of that, many fans were well informed about our Awareness Matchday and have shown much interest for our topic.

    We’re already looking forward to our next campaigns. If you’d like to organize similar campaigns at your club and have contacts, please feel free to get in touch with us.

  • Our birthday – One year Empty Stands

    Our birthday – One year Empty Stands

    One year ago, we founded Empty Stands. It all started with a small chat between a few members with the vision of hanging up posters in stadiums. We could never have imagined what it would become within just one year.

    Ein Fußballpublikum von Werder Bremen hält ein Banner mit der Aufschrift „Mehr Forschung zu ME/CFS – Wir denken an dich, Julian!“. Spieler in Weiß und Grün trainieren auf dem Feld. Die Tribünen sind in Grün und Weiß gehalten und tragen verschiedene Teambanner.
    © privat
    Eine Kurve von Babelsberg-Fans, viele in Blau-Weiß gekleidet, halten zwei große Banner hoch. Auf dem oberen Banner steht: „DER KRANKHEIT EIN GESICHT GEBEN!“. Das untere Banner trägt die Aufschrift: „FIGHT ME/CFS!“. Im Vordergrund läuft ein Spieler im weißen Trikot am Spielfeldrand entlang. Im Hintergrund vor der Kurve sind verschiedene Fan-Transparente und Fahnen zu sehen.
    © 03FOTOS.DE
    St. Pauli Fans im Millerntor, viele tragen schwarz-braune Kleidung und schwenken braun-weiße Fahnen. In der Mitte des Bildes halten Fans zwei große Banner hoch: Eines mit der Aufschrift „SUPPORT EMPTY STANDS“, das andere mit „CURE ME/CFS“. Die Gesichter der Menschen sind verpixelt. Das Bild zeigt eine solidarische Aktion im Stadion, die auf ME/CFS aufmerksam macht.
    © Ultrà Sankt Pauli
    "Fußballfans von First Vienna FC halten ein großes Banner mit der Aufschrift: 'Eine Kurve ohne Fans ist wie eine Krankheit ohne Kur' und darunter ein weiteres Transparent mit der Aufschrift: 'Support #emptystands'. Die Fans tragen vor allem gelb-blaue Kleidung, Fahnen und Schals, und stehen in einem dicht gefüllten Block. Im Vordergrund sind weitere Banner und Transparente in den gleichen Farben zu erkennen.
    © brucki.blogspot.com
    Rot-Weiss gekleidete Fans halten mehrere Transparente hoch. Darauf steht: ‚Empty Stands – Vermisst in der Kurve – Verloren an ME/CFS‘. Die Botschaft macht auf die Krankheit ME/CFS aufmerksam und zeigt Solidarität mit Betroffenen. Das Bild zeigt die volle Fankurce von Rot-Weiss Essen.
    © jawattdenn.de
    Ein Schwarz-Weiß-Foto am Spielfeldrand eines Fußballplatzes. Mehrere Personen, einige von ihnen tragen Fußballtrikots, halten ein großes, zweizeiliges Banner hoch. Die obere Zeile lautet "CURE ME/CFS: PVA IST MITTÄTER!". Die untere Zeile besagt "CURE ME/CFS BETROFFENEN GLAUBEN". Ein Schild an der Seite der Absperrung zeigt ein freies Bündel mit der Aufschrift "FREE ALL ANTFAS". Im Hintergrund sind ein Tor und Bäume zu sehen.
    © @tribuene_links_vorne & @christopher.glanzl auf Instagram
    Fans im Stadion halten ein Banner hoch mit der Aufschrift: 'Mehr Aufmerksamkeit für ME/CFS – Forschung vorantreiben'. Die Menschenmenge trägt überwiegend Rot, im Hintergrund ist eine Anzeigetafel mit dem Spielstand 1:1 mit den Wappen vom KSV Hessen Kassel und SV Wehen sichtbar. Im weiteren Hintergrund sind grüne Bäume bei grauem Himmel zu sehen.
    © ©gwa_1995 auf Instagram
    © @05fotoblog auf Instagram

    At the same time, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you!

    To the ME/CFS Research Foundation for the initial cooperation on matchday campaigns, to the clubs for the joint initiatives, and to the fan scenes and groups that have supported us. Thanks to all of you, we’ve already been able to reach many people and raise awareness about ME/CFS. Awareness Matchdays in Meppen, Bremen, Kaiserslautern, Babelsberg, Karlsruhe, and Osnabrück, as well as banners from numerous other fan scenes on the topic of ME/CFS (St. Pauli, Wolfsburg, Darmstadt, First Vienna, Wiener SC, RW Essen, and many more) mean a lot to us.

    During the summer break, we also founded the Donation League. You can still sign up here. Besides, we’re currently producing a solidarity shirt. The earnings from both projects will be donated to the biomedical research of ME/CFS. Therefore, a big thank you to everyone who supports our projects. Every donation makes a difference!

    Ein Outdoor-Stand unter einem schwarzen Zelt mit einem Tisch voller Flyer, Tassen und einem schwarz-weißen Banner mit der Aufschrift 'EMPTY STANDS' Es sind zwei Personen zu sehen, deren Gesichter durch einen Fußball-Sticker verdeckt sind.
    © Der Betze brennt
    © privat
    Ein Fußballstadion mit Fans von Werder Bremen. Auf einem auffälligen Banner steht „Stay Strong Julian FB“ neben einem weiteren Banner mit der Aufschrift „Empty Stands“. Die Stimmung ist lebhaft und ausgelassen.
    Das Bild zeigt drei Personen in VFL-Osnabrück-Trikor. Die linke Person interviewt die Frau in der Mitte mit einem lila Shirt, auf dem das Empty Stands Logo zu sehen ist. Im Hintergund sind sich aufwärmende Fußballer zu sehen und das volle Stadion an der Bremer Brücke.
    © VFL Osnabrück

    But we also want to thank everyone who lent us an open ear. Whether journalists, friends and family, or fans at our campaigns. Just as we appreciate the support from the community and the work of our members. We’re also always grateful for the support from non-affected individuals who, with their contributions and/or contacts, provide important backing for our initiative. Every share, every mention, every conversation moves us forward.

    At the same time, the situation for people affected by ME/CFS is unfortunately still very precarious. The awareness we’ve created for ME/CFS and the research funding we’ve generated are a success, but we need substantially more of both so that life no longer passes us by, but we can actively participate again. Therefore, we hope that many more clubs and fan groups will stand in solidarity with us to advocate for better care structures and biomedical research, and thereby raise their voices for over 650,000 affected people in Germany.

    If you have contacts or information about clubs, fan scenes, media, or supporters, please get in touch with us.

    Further campaigns and projects are already in the planning stages. We would be delighted if you continue to support us on our journey.

  • Action Matchday in Osnabrück

    Action 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