Longest fan merchandise chain in the world for a good cause

Due to this abnormality, Alfie can neither walk nor talk and he has to be fed and dressed. He is susceptible to chest infections and pneumonia and also has autistic-like behaviours. Mark Lund, Alfie's father, set up a project in 2014 to raise awareness of the, as yet, under-investigated disease and also to raise funds for special equipment for Alfie and others. He has asked football fans throughout the world to send in fan merchandise from their clubs. All the submitted scarves, shirts, T-shirts or other items will be knotted together to produce the longest fan merchandise chain in the world.

In his most recent visit at the end of last year, Eversmann not only handed over the scarves collected from his many trips across Europe to Alfie. The Leverkusen supporter also had many scarves donated by other Bayer 04 fans with him. "Up to now, we've collected over 1,500 scarves," said Eversmann. The chain is over two miles long and has already been on display at over 100 football matches in England - mostly in lower leagues. It is hoped to submit it as a Guinness world record in the near future.

Bayer 04 have been involved in the campaign since 2015 with several items of fan merchandise passed on to Alfie by Marius Eversmann, including a signed Werkself shirt. "I think Bayer 04 are amongst the top three clubs represented in Alfie's collection," said Eversmann.

Further information on the Alfie Lund Fund is available at http://www.thealfielundfund.co.uk