As the players of the ice hockey club Starbulls Rosenheim When we played the away game at SC Riessersee / Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Friday, February 03.02.2023rd, 9, everything initially looked like a normal ice hockey game. But in the XNUMXth minute of the game everything suddenly came to a standstill. The one in the service of Starbulls Rosenheim Standing striker Mike Glemser suffered very serious spinal injuries after falling into the boards.
Also the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) is moved by the events that occurred in the Oberliga match at the beginning of February and is therefore asking for your support for the fundraising campaign #97BeStrong in order to support Mike, his family and his club on this difficult path.
After several minutes of excellent first aid on the ice, Glemser was taken to the nearby Murnau Accident Clinic, which specializes in spinal injuries and has an excellent reputation in this area throughout Germany. After around ten days in an artificial coma and two operations, the diagnosis was paraplegia, a fracture of the 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae, with one of the two vertebrae being replaced by an artificial implant in the meantime. The fracture caused severe damage to the spinal cord, which means that Glemser is paralyzed from the cervical vertebrae downwards. As a result, Mike can neither move his legs nor his hands, and can sometimes move his arms uncontrollably. His respiratory activity is also impaired by the paralysis of the diaphragm, which means that he still has to be artificially ventilated. Daily treatment measures are currently focused on trying to restore basic body functions such as independent breathing and digestion. In addition, attempts are being made to have a positive influence on the musculoskeletal system through mobilization.
Mike Glemser's sporting career
Mike Glemser, born in Stuttgart in 1997, learned to play ice hockey early in his childhood and spent his youth at the SCBietigheim-Bissingen ice hockey club up to the U18 level and at the Kölner EC up to the U20 level. Glemser was also used in the U20 national team before he moved to the two Hanoverian clubs "Indians" and "Indians" in Hanover for one-year commitments in the professional field with the Dresdner Eislöwen (season 17/18 DEL2) and the SC Riessersee (season 18/19 Oberliga). “Scorpions” went (seasons 19/20 and 20/21, both top league). Glemser was then able to join the Moskitos Essen will play in the Oberliga for the 21/22 season before joining his current club, the Starbulls Rosenheim, also signed for the Oberliga for the current 22/23 season.
The head coach of the Starbulls Rosenheim, Jari Pasanen, was happy about the signing of Glemser at the start of the season: “We were of course happy last summer because Mike is not only a dangerous striker who works well in front of the goal, but also because as a young player he was ready to work very hard on yourself. This fits well in Rosenheim because our philosophy here is to make young players better through hard work and a willingness to learn. It’s unbelievable that he was thwarted so hard now.”
Family man with a big heart
Starbulls managing director Daniel Bucheli also knows private Mike Glemser: “Things have been going really well for Mike so far. He had earned a permanent place for himself both on the ice and in the dressing room and in the club. As a club, we were and are very proud of him because he embodies the values that we represent here: hard work, impeccable behavior, good character. Mike brings everything that a club can be proud of having such people here in Rosenheim. Of course, his fate is currently hitting us all very hard.”
Friend Lara and the family describe their Mike as a wonderful person inside and out: “He is intelligent and always makes you laugh with his humorous nature; is always strong in character and open-minded. Just a fighter with a strong sense of justice. His family is very important to him. On the outside he tends to be tough and self-confident, but above all I know him as a courteous, helpful family man with a big heart who is always there for you.”
Family and club start fundraising campaign
Marcus Thaller, board member of the Starbulls, is severely affected by the situation: “You have so many plans for a season, the whole team and the club work so hard on the goals and then an event like this brings you completely down to earth back. We have of course promised Mike our best possible support and are in close coordination with his family. In addition to the tragic, emotional situation, we have also quantified the financial uncertainties for the near future, where at least EUR 250.000,00 can be assumed. Over a lifetime, ideal medical care is expected to cost between EUR 500.000,00 and EUR 750.000,00. I can only once again call on everyone to donate to Mike and support him on his incredibly difficult journey.”
Mike Glemser's family and girlfriend have set up a donation account for Mike, to which donations can now be made. The family is actively supported throughout the fundraising campaign Starbulls Rosenheim supports. About the donation campaign: www.starbulls.de/bestrong
Anyone interested can also find out more about the next steps and how Mike's donations will be used at the following link: www.instagram.com/97bestrong
The hashtag is also used for maximum reach and a broad support community #97BeStrong for any kind of expression of support.