This was made possible by Union's top sponsor, M4Energy, which waived its advertising space on the running shirts in favour of SchutzengelWerk, thus creating the framework for this emotional gesture.

"The work done by the employees of SchutzengelWerk deserves the utmost respect. They give children and families in difficult life situations support, confidence and perspective – and that is exactly what we wanted to highlight with our campaign. It was touching to see the joy with which the children took to the pitch alongside the Union players as mascots. Moments like these show how much power there is in a strong community and how important it is to take social responsibility seriously. It grounds you and reminds you of what really matters," says Maik Junker, CEO of M4Energy eG.

"It's great to see how partners like M4Energy bring social engagement to life and give children unforgettable experiences. The shining eyes of the children were the most beautiful sign that football can achieve much more than just sporting enthusiasm," says Bernd von Geldern, Marketing Director at 1. FC Union Berlin.

After the run-in, the children had the opportunity to take souvenir photos and watch the game from the stands – accompanied by a resounding home victory for the women's team and a spine-tingling moment that will probably linger in their memories for a long time to come.