Special home shirts designed for SMIL Foundation
Back in the autumn, F.C. Copenhagen launched a collaboration with our main partner, 3, and the SMIL Foundation. The collaboration, which runs under the project name 'Flere smil i Parken' (More Smiles in Parken), has already given many poorly children and their families the chance to enjoy unique experiences in Parken, and our training facility Number 10, over the past six months.
These great experiences will continue, and the club are dedicating part of our next match against Viborg FF to focus on the project.
The FCK players will, for the game on Sunday 16 April, take to the field with newly-styled numbers and lettering on the back of their shirts. The fonts are designed and coloured by children and their families from the SMIL Foundation, and in collaboration with our first-team players.
Experiences that will be remembered for many years
"3 have entered into a cooperation with Parken to give the entire Danish population the freedom to have experiences on the field and on their mobile at the same time", says Søren Rinnov Østergaard, director of the telecommunications company 3's consumer division.
"The same vision has also applied to the collaboration with the SMIL Foundation, where, due to their difficult situation, some families do not have the same opportunities as others to participate in the great experiences that can be had at Denmark's national stadium. With Store Kampdag (the Big Gameday), we hope to give some of the SMIL Foundation's children and families a unique experience they will be able to remember for many years to come."
Players looking forward to the new design
FCK midfielder Lukas Lerager was one of the players who came to Rigshospitalet to take part in the event where most of the FCK shirts were designed.
"We do many things at F.C. Copenhagen, but it should be no secret that this is one of the best things to be able to participate in as a player at the club," says Lukas.
"It is hugely rewarding, and I had a really fun evening with the children. I heard about their stories and feel like I was contributing a little more than usual. We're looking forward to putting on the shirts and playing with in them on Sunday. It will definitely be a shirt that creates a bit more joy in the ground."
Matchday mascots
In addition to the specially designed shirts, a number of other things will happen on the day of the match, which embrace the 'More Smiles in Parken' project.
Matchday mascots will be children and their siblings from the SMIL Foundation, and at the same time their families will be invited to the stadium. They will either sit in the stands or in 3 Denmark's skybox.
The whole project is something that chairman of the board of SMIL Foundation Sisse Fisker has already seen provide great and fun experiences for many kids and their families.
"These have been very special and unique experiences, and this collaboration has given seriously and chronically ill children some experiences that they would otherwise never have had the opportunity to enjoy," says Sisse.
"Together with their family and friends, they have been able to experience FCK's home games in the most unique settings, they have had photos with players at the training facility and decorated player shirts with them in our creative workshop. Now it all culminates in the match itself. It couldn't be bigger for the children and their families."
It will be possible for FCK fans to donate to the SMIL Foundation at the match. The money goes to give the children in the SMIL Foundation even more experiences, that can put a smile on their faces every day and during the course of their illness.
Kids get a voice
Kids from the SMIL Foundation will call out the team sheets before the game against Viborg. This means that the children will be shown on the big screen, and their naming of the starting X1 will be heard the loudspeakers in Parken.
Fan Shop exhibition
In the days leading up to the match day on Sunday 16 April, a number of the shirts and the stories behind the designs will be exhibited in the FCK Fan Shop. Here you will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the jerseys before the players pull them on for the game itself!
FCK director Jacob Lauesen says he's delighted to see the initiative unfold in Parken.
"We have already given a number of children and families some good experiences at the training facility in Frederiksberg and here in Parken," says Jacob. "This is what we want to do as a stadium and football club in Copenhagen. It is a clear part of our strategy that we must be able to do more for others. And the fact that we also have a partner in 3 who helps make it possible is fantastic.
"It's great that we can now continue this project for a matchday in Parken, where we hope that many F.C. Copenhageners will help and give their support. This will mean that together we will focus more on helping those who need an extra smile on their face during some difficult periods."
Shirt auction
The shirts will be auctioned off after the game with Viborg and the money will go towards giving the children in the SMIL Foundation even more great experiences.
The auction takes place on Lauritz.com and will not be sold in the FCK Fan Shop or elsewhere.
Facts about the SMIL Foundation
The SMIL Foundation is a charitable association whose vision is to give children with serious and chronic illnesses a better life. They do this by giving children and their families a welcome break through social activities. The SMIL Foundation embraces all children and their families, and is present with creative workshops (SMILET) both in Copenhagen and in Aarhus.