2023-07-09 19:37:20
It all started with jerseys: In November 2021, Karl Schäfer from Ergenzingen donated a set of jerseys to Dieter Sesterheim, the district chairman of the Rhein/Ahr districts. In discussions with Sesterheim, ideas are developed as to how the clubs in the Ahr Valley that are suffering from the consequences of the floods two years ago can be helped further.
Municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were affected by the disaster, which began on July 14, 2021. Here in the Ahr Valley, the flood caused the greatest destruction, 136 people lost their lives, thousands of buildings, all bridges and the railway connection were destroyed. Although thousands of people have provided help for weeks and months, many residents of the Ahr Valley have left their homes; many houses may no longer be built.
At Karl Schäfer’s instigation, the Northern Black Forest district called for donations; 8,000 euros were received within five weeks, along with numerous donations in kind. In February 2022 there was a first donation handover in the Ahr Valley. Where many roads still not passable fit. “It still looked very bad everywhere: images of devastation that you can’t let go of. Sports fields and club houses were all destroyed,” writes Schäfer.
The campaign continued and the next donation tour could take place at Easter. Some officials from the Northern Black Forest district and the B-Juniors from SG Gäufelden/Bondorf traveled to the Ahr Valley and handed over a further check for 6,000 euros in addition to donations in kind at the SV Adenau sports facility.
SV Fischingen donated 1250 euros
Schäfer didn’t give up and motivated the clubs in the football district to do more: SV Fischingen, for example, donated 1,250 euros at a home game. The same sum was given at several events by the SG Reception. Soccer players from SG Detlingen/Bittelbronn/Dießen/Schopfloch donated 1,000 euros in a pre-season challenge.
Among the companies, the Ergenzing-based company BetriebseinrichtungSofort.de with 2000 euros and Heinrich Kipp with 1500 euros have emerged as the largest donors. Private individuals also contributed up to 500 euros to the campaign. In October, TuS Ergenzingen’s nine-meter tournament raised a whopping 2,020 euros.
In mid-March 2023, Schäfer drove to Ahrtag again, this time with a €9,000 donation check and again donations in kind, which he handed over to SG Hönningen.
According to Schäfer, commitment to donations has decreased somewhat in recent weeks. But he remains active: At tournaments in Rohrdorf, Hochdorf and Baisingen, a proud sum was raised again, so that the donations from the Northern Black Forest district from 16 clubs, 70 private individuals and 10 companies now total more than 25,000 euros. Schäfer has received signals that further supporters are ready. “This is really great and the clubs in the Ahr Valley were very happy about the monetary and material donations,” writes Schäfer.
A report by the district chairman of the Rhein/Ahr districts, Dieter Sesterheim, dates from the end of June: During a visit to the regional council in Dernau, it was still clear to see how high the water used to be in the streets. Grants are available for reconstruction, but the badly damaged half-timbered houses in Dernau, for example, have to be restored in the same way. “Anyone who wants to build something else doesn’t get a euro subsidy,” explains Schäfer.
Soccer fields are in short supply
The sports facilities are comparable; only in Bad Bodendorf is a place playable. In Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler there is also a small pitch that 20 teams have to share. The four clubs of the SG Ahr Valley in Insul are planning the groundbreaking ceremony for a new place on Tuesday, July 11, which should be available in the summer of 2024. Otherwise there are no sports fields or halls, let alone a swimming pool, which would be available for sport.
It is very difficult to find suitable areas in the Ahr valley to build new sports fields. Many clubs just couldn’t make it anymore. In addition, the support is no longer very large. “The clubs are currently well supplied with training material. Thanks to your donations, the clubs could be helped quickly,” said Schäfer in conclusion.
#happened #donations #football #clubs #Ahr #Valley