Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Lebenshilfe with FC Bayern - that was 13-year-old Milad's greatest wish.
And it should actually come true, thanks to the active support of Rudolf Spöttl from Feldafing.
Feldafing - 13-year-old Milad attends the Franziskus School in Starnberg. The establishment of Lebenshilfe Starnberg supports children with intellectual disabilities. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Lebenshilfe created a book - among other things, it showed the heartfelt wishes of the middle school students at the Franziskus School. Because art teacher Heike Longeron had set this task: “What do you want for the 50th anniversary of Lebenshilfe Starnberg? Draw your wishes on a piece of paper. ”Milad didn't have to think twice: he drew a coat of arms for his favorite football club and wrote:“ I think Bayern should celebrate with us. ”
A longtime supporter of Lebenshilfe saw Milad's wish and took the initiative.
Rudolf Spöttl (65) from Feldafing received the anniversary book unsolicited because he has been making regular donations to Lebenshilfe for around 30 years.
"Milad's wish impressed me somehow, so I thought about it: What can I do?", Spöttl explains in an interview with Starnberg Merkur.
It was worth a try, so Spöttl sent an email to FC Bayern - even though, as a Löwen fanatic, he is a blue guy and doesn't stick with the reds.
"It was important to me that FC Bayern knew that I didn't want to benefit from my request myself"
But he's not a fanatic and just wanted to make the boy happy. In the mail, the pensioner asked the association to "set another humanitarian mark" and to send some fan articles to Lebenshilfe Starnberg. "It was important to me that FC Bayern knew that I didn't want to benefit from my request myself," emphasized Spöttl.
The association responded.
He sent three packages with T-shirts, baseball caps, scarves, key rings and stamp sets to Lebenshilfe - without comment.
Rudolf Spöttl only found out more or less by chance a few days later when he politely asked FC Bayern again.
And then it was only then that it became clear to Lebenshilfe who was behind the initiative.
Of course, the Spöttl association invited Milad to personally hand over the packages that made his heart's wish come true.
"It really touched us emotionally that Mr. Spöttl showed so much commitment, even though he is not a Bayern fan at all," says Annette Werny from Lebenshilfe.
Photo opportunity with 1860 cap and Bayern scarf
And so the 65-year-old wore his blue 1860 cap together with a red and white FC Bayern scarf at the photo session. He also wanted to set an example: Despite the teams that are often seen as rivals, you don't have to be a fanatic - and you can also do something out of charity. Milad was allowed to keep a package of fan articles, the remaining items will be distributed to other Bayern fans of the school by lot. “The students are very enthusiastic about this,” says Werny.
Lebenshilfe sent the anniversary book to sponsors and supporters at the beginning of the year.
It met with a positive response from many.
The difference to the rest of the world: "The people had the book in their hands and reacted," says Annette Werny.
There has been a lot of feedback about how nice it is to "get such an impression of the facility and the people at the facility".
Rudolf Spöttl's commitment remains something very special for everyone involved in Lebenshilfe Starnberg.
Rudolf Spöttl does not want to be portrayed as a hero
However, it is important to the Feldafinger that he is not portrayed as a hero.
“I didn't do this to get in the paper,” he clarifies.
“It is important that people stand up for such issues.” And by that he does not only mean private individuals like himself, but above all all teachers, supervisors and those involved in institutions such as Lebenshilfe Starnberg.
Text: Ada Wassmann