Bayer 04 leave the training camp in Saalfelden on Friday afternoon 28 July heading directly to San Sebastian. Xabi Alonso will head straight to the town hall in his home town for a press conference along with the president of the Columbus Foundation Javier García to talk about the background to the match. For the Spanish World Cup winner, who returns to his hometown for the first time as a Bundesliga coach, the match will be a special game in many respects.
support for the Columbus foundation
The Columbus Children’s Foundation has the mission of raising funds for research into rare diseases and to find treatments for these through gene therapy. The friendly against the Champions League team from La Liga is specifically part of the battle against spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG 50). This rare neuromuscular disease affects a very limited number of children with symptoms including developmental delay, mental incapacity and changes to or absence of speech.
Alongside the Columbus Foundation, the Asociación Guipuzcoana contra el cáncer will also benefit from the charity match. The organisation is involved in the battle against cancer.
lots of activities at the game
There will be a family party at the campus of Viralgen on Saturday morning. Ahead of the friendly at the stadium, children will meet two Werkself players and two players from Real Sociedad. Immediately before kick-off. children from the foundation will accompany the two teams onto the pitch. The highlight of the day will be two kids who have recovered from SPG 50 taking the kick-off.
match live on club channels
Anyone looking to support the Werkself at the game can do so: Tickets are available on the day at a cost of €20. There is a reduced price of €10 for children under 14. Alternatively tickets are available online HERE.
Proceeds from the match will go to the foundation as well as for a holiday camp in the Basque country for children suffering from cancer.
Bayer 04 will broadcast the match against Real Sociedad live on YouTube, Facebook and Werkself TV as well as on the club app. ESPN are showing the game live in America. In Spain the match will be broadcast by DAZN and Moviestar.
