Rene, winner of our campaign with Bernd Leno benefiting the Stars4Kids Foundation, and the person accompanying him were able to meet up personally with Bernd Leno in the VIP lounge of the BayArena after Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League home match against Atletico Madrid.

Their evening had already begun two hours before the match. Rene and his companion were ushered into the VIP area to enjoy a leisurely evening meal before watching the exciting UEFA Champions League round of 16 encounter, from best-placed, cushioned VIP seats surrounded by some top sporting names.

Straight after the match came the big moment. Bernd called in at the lounge for drinks and photos - and a chat that included assessing how the match went, and also about life in general plus some personal advice. A special surprise came when Bernd presented our winner with the jersey he had worn during the match. Then came a further highlight to the evening when more stars joined the gathering, giving Rene the chance to meet Miroslav Klose, Andreas Köpke and Christoph Daum among others.

"It was a thrilling Champions League night and a fantastic experience - and even though Bayer didn’t manage a win, I’ll never forget this night with all the stars and the impression they left," enthused Rene the day after.

The donations accrued in this campaign will flow into the "Bola pra Frente" Stars4Kids project helping some 950 vulnerable children and young people in Rio de Janeiro to take control of their lives and steer clear of drugs and crime, using the power of sport. VIPrize will keep you posted!