Schalke Helps! “The most beautiful day of my life” – Königsblau has been fulfilling heart’s desires for 14 years
Let’s go Schalke, fight and win! This is not only a fan chant, but also an important message to all Schalke fans who are going through difficult times. With the Heart’s Desires campaign, the Knappen have been giving these people new courage to face life – for over 14 years.
Every season, the club’s own foundation Schalke hilft (helps)! invites guests to home matches in the Königsblau (royal blue) stadium. Children and young people, adults and families with whom fate has not been kind. A sudden illness, the loss of a loved one or a drastic event that turns life upside down – Schalke 04 is there in these moments, at the side of its fans. Since the campaign began in the 2009/2010 season, more than 500 Schalke fans have already had their heart’s desire fulfilled.
What does it look like? Experience a day at Schalke. Watch the match live from the stands of the VELTINS Arena, walk through the players’ tunnel, step onto the pitch and sit on the podium in the press conference room. A visit to the club’s own chapel makes for particularly emotional moments – not forgetting the highlight of every match day: meeting the professionals. Collecting autographs, taking photos, hugging each other. Moments that make for beaming faces and even a tear or two of joy.
“It is incredibly beautiful to see how much strength our visitors draw from this experience. Our fans live for this club. But sometimes it’s exactly what they may not be allowed to do for much longer. With the heartfelt wishes, we give them carefree hours and enable a little distraction from everyday life. It’s incredibly nice to see how much strength our visitors draw from this experience.”
Sebastian Buntkirchen, Director Fans & Sustainability at FC Schalke 04
Throughout this time, Königsblau has also accompanied the fates of many fans over the years. Some stories have had a positive ending, others a sad one.
“Of course, this touches us very much as employees. But even in such moments, we receive an incredible number of positive and grateful messages from the relatives. It makes us happy that the fans spent such a wonderful day with us and lived on this experience until the end.”
Sebastian Buntkirchen, Director Fans & Sustainability at FC Schalke 04
Since the 2021/2022 season, the project has been expanded to include training visits by the professionals to the S04 club grounds. In particular, seriously ill Schalke fans who can no longer manage a visit to the stadium are invited. Together with a companion, they watch the training session before a group photo with the team and the coaching staff is on the agenda afterwards.
Herzenswünsche is only a small but significant part of the numerous projects that Schalke 04 implements as part of its social responsibility. Through a variety of offers and campaigns, the Knappen make a valuable contribution to the people of Gelsenkirchen, the Ruhr region and beyond under the umbrella of their foundation Schalke hilft!
Invitations for heartfelt wishes will again be issued in the 2023/2024 season. Members and fans who feel addressed or know Schalkers who need support are welcome to contact Shalke helps!
Aris Limassol FC Social, Environmental, and Health Initiatives
