Souvenir photos, handshakes, presents - and many wishes that came true. FC Bayern treated some people, young and old, to a few pleasant hours in the week leading up to Christmas - and of course had some red and white presents with them. The German record champions wanted to bring a little joy to children and senior citizens alike with special moments, including visits to the Munich Schwabing Children's Hospital and the BRK SeniorenWohnen Kieferngarten retirement home.
Bearing gifts: Berni on a visit to the Munich Schwabing Children's Hospital.
The children were amazed when Berni suddenly stood in front of them with his basketball buddy Ben - a big surprise that was of course captured in selfies and videos, while the kids eagerly high-fived the velvety paws of their visitors. Ben had also brought along his basketball players David Booker, Niklas Wimberg, Nelson Weidemann and Elias Harris.
Together with the musician Amelie Haidt, who accompanied the children on the guitar, they sang Christmas carols for the early presents.
Berni also provided a nice surprise at the BRK SeniorenWohnen Kieferngarten.
The visit to the BRK retirement home also put everyone in the festive spirit. More than 350 guests, some of them festively dressed in traditional Bavarian costume, were visibly delighted when Berni appeared as a surprise guest at the Christmas party to hand out presents together with the retirement home's gift express train, also on behalf of FC Bayern. Berni was sought-after for group pictures, which are sure to be in every photo album in the future.
In the end, everyone agreed that there are only a few things more beautiful than a white Christmas - for example, a red and white Christmas. Merry Christmas!
At the start of December, Uli Hoeneß, Claudio Pizarro and Giovane Élber visited a Bavarian state school for disabled children and handed over a cheque of €25,000: