
In addition to special targeted measures on primary prevention and the promotion of general health, Bayer 04 and the BERGISCHE KRANKENKASSE have and will increasingly focus on children and teenagers and thereby go beyond the traditional field of occupational health. The "Lebenswelt Schule" will play a significant role in those activities.
In the region during 2023, a project of the Bayer 04 Lernkurve organised 45 workshop for year groups 1 to 5 with 30 children per workshop attending in their classes. The content focused on the ability to work in a team, nutrition, anti-bullying measures and media skills. A multi-school parents evening is planned in the spring of 2024 to enable the BERGISCHE KRANKENKASSE and Bayer 04 to provide information on health promotion and primary prevention to parents as well as the children.
Under the motto of ‘Werkself hautnah gesund erleben' (experience the Werkself close-up healthily) there were eight events organised by Bayer 04 and BERGISCHE KRANKENKASSE in association with home games at the current Bundesliga league leaders. 35 to 40 children took part in the activities, which recently included training sessions at the Bayer 04 Soccer School where children were informed about the cardiovascular system and sport through practical sessions. The BERGISCHE KRANKENKASSE extended the programme of events by organising a Family Olympics.
In future, the issue of healthy nutrition will increasingly be highlighted by the ‘Werkself hautnah gesund erleben’ project. Up to the summer of 2024 there will be five other events of this type at Werkself home games.

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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There’s lots going on at the BayArena today. The home game against FSV Mainz 05 is all about the numerous Bayer 04 fan clubs, whose birth - the founding of the "1. Fanclub 1976 Leverkusen" - dates back 50 years. A number of fan club representatives will be involved in awards, a banner display and a half-time matchday chat, and the Werkself are set to play in a special white fan club jersey. During half-time, Leverkusen mayor Stefan Hebbel and javelin world champion Steffi Nerius will also talk about the Olympic bid involving Leverkusen. Black and Red fans are advised to get to the stadium in good time today. Matchday news.
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The Werkself host Premier League club Arsenal in the Round of 16 first leg in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The match at the BayArena is on 10/11 March. Read on for information on ticket sales for this fixture.
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