On Saturday, January 25, 2025, we welcomed very special guests to our Schalke box as part of "Schalke hilft": the Heinker family from Schöppingen. Ten-year-old Paul, who has been dependent on a wheelchair since birth, experienced a day full of unforgettable experiences and emotional highlights together with his parents Antje and Guido Heinker.
The occasion was Paul's upcoming communion in May, for which his mother wanted to give him a very special present: a visit to a Schalke match in the VELTINS Arena. Unfortunately, only one accompanying person is allowed in the wheelchair stand. However, as Paul is sensitive to noise and only feels safe when both parents are with him, Antje turned to the Schalke hilft initiative with a request. She came across it by chance on the Internet. The answer came promptly: thanks to the support of organizer Simone Rochel and the cooperation of Sonilift and Fellerhoff Medizintechnik, the family was not only cordially invited to experience the match together - they were even allowed to enjoy this highlight in our box. Paul was already very excited the evening before.
Their day began with an exclusive tour that took them directly to the pitch. The family took a seat on the trainer's bench for a photo - one of the absolute highlights for Paul. "That was really great!" he said afterwards, beaming with joy. They then visited the chapel, where Paul and his mother lit a candle. Another special moment was the players' run-in in the catacombs, which the family was able to experience up close with other fans. Full of anticipation, they then went to the box, where a relaxed and informal atmosphere prevailed with delicious food and drink.
The home game against Nuremberg delivered what it promised: a rousing 3:1 for Schalke, which not only made the Heinker family cheer, but all the fans as well. But the day was far from over for Paul. After the game, he was able to meet the players in person, collect autographs on his new Schalke jersey and take photos with the professional footballers. The crowning glory was the trip to the press conference room, where the family sat down on the chairs that are usually reserved for the players for interviews - the absolute highlight for Paul. As a big Schalke fan, he was overwhelmed by the many experiences that day. "I don't think my friends will believe all this. I really have to show them the photos!" he said enthusiastically as he enjoyed the view of the pitch from the box one last time.
Paul has been in a wheelchair since birth and can only walk a few steps with help, but that doesn't stop him from being active. "I can drive my wheelchair very well, I think that's great," he says proudly. Particularly impressive: he masters tricks such as the "wheelie", where he leans backwards with all his strength and balances on the rear tire. "Others don't have this superpower because they don't have a wheelchair," he explains with a smile. Besides soccer, Paul has other passions: he loves horse riding and plays tennis with his father. Although there are sometimes challenges for Paul at school, many things have been specially adapted for him. His father Guido remembers: "In elementary school, there was neither a stair lift nor a disabled toilet - that was all retrofitted in time for Paul's start of school."
For his parents Antje and Guido, it was moving to see their son blossom on this day at Schalke. "It's always an experience when he sits here like that, beaming with joy. That's priceless!" says his father Guido, touched. His mother Antje adds: "We were more than pleasantly surprised. It really was an unforgettable day. We were given a great insight behind the scenes at Schalke in a very private atmosphere."
In everyday life, the family faces daily challenges - whether it's getting up and down stairs or the laborious transfer to the car. "We take Paul to school ourselves every day," says his mother Antje. As he attends a mainstream school, he is not entitled to a transport service. Antje still sees a lot of catching up to do in Germany, particularly when it comes to accessibility: "It starts with the limited number of parking spaces for people with disabilities, continues with insurmountable steps in public spaces and ends with the difficulty of finding accessible vacation accommodation." The family had a much more positive experience on their summer vacation in Spain, where many places are more accessible.
But instead of getting discouraged, they give each other strength as a family and overcome every hurdle together. "The most important thing is to get informed, apply for funding and accept help," explains father Guido. Antje gives other families the following advice: "You should always fight for support and consideration and keep at it!" Today has shown them that commitment and solidarity make many things possible. "The fact that companies like Sonilift and Fellerhoff MED TEC work together with Schalke hilft and make moments like this possible is simply fantastic," emphasizes Guido. "We were more than pleasantly surprised - it was a complete success," summarizes Antje.
"We are incredibly proud of our Paul!" say his parents.
This unforgettable experience gave Paul and his family a lot of pleasure. The family could even imagine Paul sitting in the wheelchair stand with just one accompanying person in future. "That would probably be Guido's job - he's the bigger soccer fan of the two of us," says Antje with a grin.
It was a pleasure and an honor for all of us to meet the Heinker family and share this special day with them. Their smiles, their enthusiasm and their thanks showed us once again how much strength and joy there is in shared experiences.
Good luck!