Presentation of the “Goldene Ahornblatt” - News - Feeds

"Goldene Ahornblatt” award ceremony: Recognition for decades of voluntary service by Ludger Düchting and Prof. Dr Uwe Kern

Photo (Bärbel Kiffmeier): Ralf Pahlsmeier (Ahorn-Sportpark gGmbH, left in the picture) and Martin Nixdorf (Stiftung Westfalen, right in the picture) present Prof. Dr Uwe Kern (Paderborn Squash Club, second from left) and Ludger Düchting (Paderborn Ahorn-Panther, second from right) the Golden Maple Leaf for their decades of voluntary service.

Ludger Düchting, Chairman of Paderborn Ahorn-Panther e. V., and Prof. Dr Uwe Kern, Deputy Chairman of Paderborn Squash Club e. V., were awarded the ‘Goldene Ahornblatt’, the Golden Maple Leaf Award, for their outstanding and long-standing commitment to the Ahorn-Sportpark. This honour, established in 1999 on the initiative of Renate Nixdorf, recognises individuals who have made a special contribution to the Ahorn-Sportpark and the clubs based there. Martin Nixdorf, patron of the event, presented the award during a formal ceremony, emphasising the invaluable contribution of voluntary work: “Without the many dedicated volunteers, our society would be poorer and functionally weaker.”

Ralf Pahlsmeier, Managing Director of Ahorn-Sportpark gGmbH (standing on the left), holds the certificate for the winner of the Golden Maple Leaf award. In the centre stands Golden Maple Leaf winner Ludger Düchting with the Golden Maple Leaf. Next to him stands Martin Nixdorf (Stiftung Westfalen, on the right of the picture).

Bärbel Kiffmeier

Ludger Düchting – Pioneer in disability and rehabilitation sport

Ludger Düchting was honoured for his commitment to disability and rehabilitation sport. He has been working as a sports instructor since 1993 and has since become a key figure in disability sport in Paderborn. Even whilst he was a student, with the support of the University of Paderborn, he set up one of the first sports groups for stroke patients in Germany – a pioneering project that still exists today and enables people with disabilities to access sport and exercise. This group is still run today by Paderborn’s Ahorn-Panther e. V.

Ludger Düchting took on increasing responsibility: in 2002 he became deputy chairman and in 2007 finally chairman of the club. Under his leadership, the club became a major centre for disabled sports in Paderborn and beyond. He also developed numerous training and further education programmes for coaches for the Disabled Sports Association of North Rhine-Westphalia, which today serve as the basis for qualified training in disabled sports. His commitment embodies the ideals that the “Goldene Ahornblatt” stands for in a special way, said Prof. Uwe Rheker, himself a recipient of the GAB, in his laudatory speech praising Ludger Düchting’s achievements. Ludger Düchting himself described what has driven him for over 30 years: “Every hour of voluntary work contributes significantly to the success and sustainability of organised sport and is thus one of the most important pillars of any sports club.”

Prof. Dr Uwe Kern – the backbone of the Paderborn Squash Club

Ralf Pahlsmeier, Managing Director of Ahorn-Sportpark gGmbH (standing on the left), holds the certificate for the Golden Maple Leaf award winner. In the centre stands Golden Maple Leaf award winner Dr Uwe Kern with the Golden Maple Leaf. Next to him stands Martin Nixdorf (Stiftung Westfalen, on the right of the picture).

Bärbel Kiffmeier

Prof. Dr Uwe Kern, Deputy Chairman of the Paderborn Squash Club e. V., was also honoured for his long-standing commitment to the sport of squash. He has been passionate about the sport since the early 1980s and initially became involved in 2003 as the club’s youth coordinator. There, by organising numerous youth tournaments and establishing sustainable structures for youth sport, he laid the foundations for successful youth development.

Since 2010, Prof. Dr Kern has served as vice-chairman in the IT and management division and has had a lasting impact on the club. At major events at the Ahorn-Sportpark, such as the Team World Championships and the European Squash Championships, his organisational expertise played a key role in their success. He has also been actively involved at regional level as youth representative for the Squash Landesverband Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V., thereby promoting the sport of squash in the region.

“With his many years of experience, he is a central pillar of the PSC, Europe’s most successful squash club, and a shining example of voluntary commitment,” said Andreas Preising, President of the Paderborn Squash Club, in his laudatory speech honouring his fellow board member. “This honour is not only a recognition for me, but also, in particular, for all my fellow board members, for the community at Ahorn-Sportpark and especially for my wife. She has always accepted that I invest our limited private time in this work and has supported me in my commitment. Without the collaboration of so many dedicated people, volunteering in a success-oriented club would not be so effective,” said Prof. Dr Uwe Kern, expressing his gratitude.

Outstanding role models for voluntary work

The “Goldene Ahornblatt” not only honours the outstanding achievements of individuals, but also highlights the inestimable value of volunteering as a whole. “This award ceremony reminds us of how valuable the work is of all those who tirelessly and selflessly dedicate themselves to others. Ludger Düchting and Prof. Dr Uwe Kern are inspiring role models who, through their commitment, enrich sport and the community at Ahorn-Sportpark,” said Martin Nixdorf, Chairman of the Westfalen Foundation and patron of the event, in his words of thanks to the honourees.

Bärbel Kiffmeier