Volunteering is often referred to as the "glue that holds our society together": volunteers contribute a wide range of skills and experience for the benefit of children, young adults, families and senior citizens and are also an indispensable support for clubs.
One of these volunteers is Johannes Bosten from Tandemclub Offenbach für Blinde, Sehbehinderte und ihre Freunde e.V., an association that enables genuine participation and integrates the visually impaired into sporting activities. Here, a sighted pilot rides a bike together with a blind co-pilot. Bosten, who led the club from 2010 to 2022, has also been riding with his visually impaired wife for more than 30 years.
City Treasurer Martin Wilhelm, who represented Lord Mayor Dr. Schwenke, presented the former chairman with the silver sports badge of honor from the city of Offenbach for his outstanding services to sport at the club's annual general meeting on Saturday, 9 March.
"By honoring Johannes Bosten, we would like to pay tribute to his many years of dedicated work for the tandem club. With his assertive, yet very diplomatic manner, he has made the club what it is today: The Tandemclub Offenbach is a high-performance club in which cooperation is cultivated differently than in other clubs. Tandem cycling is based on trust and impressively demonstrates how it is possible to combine sporting achievements for the unrestricted participation of disabled people in public life," said Wilhelm in his laudatory speech.
The club was already awarded the city's Ferdinand-Kallab Prize in 2018 for its work. This social prize is awarded annually for special achievements in the areas of work with the elderly and disabled and child and youth welfare.
Thanks to his high level of commitment, his good networks and extensive contacts, the association has gained numerous sponsors and supporters who ensure its continued existence. Wilhelm wished the 77-year-old Bosten many more wonderful cycling experiences for two.