30.09.2020
NEWS
Ex-professionals bring in 32,000 euros
The 2nd GOFUS Challenge was a success. The amount donated goes to 3 playground projects.
Dorsten, 30 September 2020. The 2nd Gofus Team-Challenge at the GC Schwarze Heide Kirchhellen has collected the proud sum of 32.000 Euro. "A fantastic result. We would like to thank everyone who supported us so generously", said Mathias Schipper when the result was announced in the evening.
The former Schalke 04 professional soccer player had initiated the charity tournament together with Gofus e.V. and his club colleague Lars Naumann a year ago. Also the second edition exceeded all expectations. The money raised will be invested in the renovation of playgrounds in Bottrop, Gladbeck and Dorsten.
The commitment of the former Bundesliga stars is now a 19-year success story. Under the roof of Gofus e.V., the kickers have raised more than seven million euros for the good cause during this period. The club of the gulfenden footballers dedicates itself with its project "place there" to the promotion of economically weaker positioned children and young people. For almost 20 years, playgrounds have been renovated and football pitches have been built throughout Germany.
"We want to complete our 200th measure this year," says Olaf Thon. The 1990 World Champion has been a Gofus member since the first days and was of course not absent on Monday when the 2nd Gofus Team Challenge was held at the GC Schwarze Heide Kirchhellen. Thon was not the only celebrity on the tee. Klaus Fischer, Siggi Held, Rüdiger Abramczyk and many other former stars of the German Bundesliga and national team took part in the tournament.
The flight around the 1990 world champion Olaf Thon. Siggi Held also took the tee shot.
Impressed by the commitment of the soccer players but also proud of the active financial support from the ranks of his club, Jörn Großblotekamp showed up after the tournament. The captain of the host club GC Schwarze Heide Kirchhellen welcomed not only the 80 participants at the award ceremony in the evening, but also the mayors Tobias Stockhoff from Dorsten, Ulrich Roland from Gladbeck and Klaus Strehl from Bottrop. "We are very happy that we were able to hold this tournament again after the successful premiere last year", said Großblotekamp.
Mathias Schipper and Lars Naumann, as the tournament organizers, had feared that the weather might spoil the good cause. But despite forecasts to the contrary, it remained mostly dry with pleasant temperatures. Only two starters cancelled their participation at short notice. In the end, a total of 31,350 euros was collected, which was rounded up to 32,000 euros.
Cheque presentation to the mayors Tobias Stockhoff (Dorsten), Ulrich Roland (Gladbeck) and Klaus Strehl (Bottrop)
"A really fantastic result," commented Jörn Romeiß. The spokesman for Gofus was able to announce the third edition of the GC Schwarze Heide on Monday, "Our boys felt very comfortable here. Many have already declared that they would like to be back next year". The donation amount will be divided between three concrete playground projects in Bottrop (Leibnizstraße), Gladbeck (Wielandgarten) and Dorsten (Friedensplatz).
"We can carry out renovations at all locations and set up new playground equipment. Through close cooperation with the participating cities, we are achieving good sustainability," explains Mathias Schipper, and Lars Naumann adds: "The children and young people will enjoy these playgrounds for a long time to come.
Managing partner Lars Naumann in flight with former Schalke professional Rüdiger Abramczik
The victory in the 2nd Gofus Team Challenge went to the team around Holger Fach (416 Bundesliga appearances, among others for Borussia Mönchengladbach, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Bayer Leverkusen). Together with Björn Bartnik, Benedikt Grotenrath, Jean Nijsten and Anna Sophie Platte (all from the Gelsenkirchen GC), Fach scored 81 gross points.
Karsten Hutwelker's team, led by local heroes Peter te Heesen, Ludger Wübbelt, Markus Kissenbeck and Hugo Thiemann from Kirchhellen, followed in second place by a wide margin (69 gross points). The bronze medal with 61 points went to Siggi Held and Wolfgang Peters, Stefan Reiter, Umair Safdar and Kristinn Gunnarsson from GC Meerbusch.
Sandra Naumann, managing partner of NIPM GmbH, played together with the former Schalke trainer Peter Neururer
The renewal and repair of the playgrounds in Bottrop, Gladbeck and Dorsten are supported by Naumann Immobiliengruppe, Bedachungen Günther Schnitter, Peters Rechtsanwälte, BST Becker Sanierungstechnik, Axa Geschäftsstelle Paisert, TKB Tief- und Kabelbau, Köllemann GmbH, Gesundheit und Sport Schipper, Rotary Club Gladbeck/Kirchhellen, Hild-Löbbecke GmbH, Schlosserei Schwan, GiT Systems, Kokerei und Industriedienstleistungen KID, La Piazza, Optiker Bellendorf, Fahrrad Schmitz.
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