The background to the excursion to North Spain is the community commitment of Real Sociedad, Bayer 04 as well as Bayer AG in aid of the Fundación Columbus.
The foundation was set up to raise funds for research into rare diseases and to make them treatable through gene therapy. The friendly at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián is specifically aimed at the battle against spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG 50). This extremely rare neuromuscular disease affects a very limited number of children and symptoms range from general developmental delay, medium to serious mental disability, changed or loss of speech, microcephaly or reduced skull size, cramps and advanced motor function impairment. Gate receipts from the match will go to the foundation.
And Bayer AG, together with their subsidiaries AskBio and Viralgen involved in treating SPG 50 as part of a study project in San Sebastian, is supporting the Columbus campaign and has been involved in planning the special match from the start. "For us as part of Bayer AG the good cause this friendly is supporting offers a very good reason to travel to the training camp and join in working together," said Fernando Carro as chairman of the board at Bayer 04. Of course, Xabi Alonso is not just enthusiastic due to the venue of San Sebastián but also due to the campaign: "Health is the most important thing for us all but primarily for our children," said the Bayer 04 head coach. "We are happy to get involved if we can help people who are not in that fortunate situation, even to a small extent."
"Score a goal against SPG 50!" is the motto for the game between Real Sociedad and Bayer 04, which also gives both clubs the opportunity to assess where they are in terms of football. "An opponent of such European class offers us the ability to see where we are up to at that phase in the preseason," said Bayer 04 sporting managing director Simon Rolfes. "The fact we can also live up to our social responsibility makes this football match a great event we can already look forward to."
The event will not only benefit the Columbus foundation but also the Asociación Guipuzcoana contra el cáncer. The organisation is committed to the battle against cancer with part of the funds raised from a friendly going to finance a holiday camp in the Basque country for children suffering from cancer.
A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.
Show moreAlejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.
Show moreThe friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday, 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST) represents the sporting highlight of the current Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Ahead of the clash at the Estádio da Gávea against the highly successful youth team, there was a media event with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about the forthcoming opponents, first impressions of Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. Here are the key statements.
Show moreDay three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).
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