The UEFA Foundation for Children uses the unique occasions offered by UEFA’s competitions to deliver unforgettable memories for vulnerable children, and the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, was no different.

The day before the match, the Athletic Club Foundation – a UEFA Foundation partner – brought 30 local children to the San Mamés Stadium for a special meet-and-greet session with the players from eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur.

When the action kicked off in Bilbao, a further 80 local children were watching from the stands thanks to our partnership with Hankook, a long-standing UEFA Europe League partner. Fourteen youngsters had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not only to attend the game but to walk out onto the pitch with the teams as players mascots, through our partnership with Lidl, while a further three acted as referee mascots.

One was also chosen to join UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin in handing out the medals after the final whistle. Ruth Noemí Gamarra is supported by the Athletic Club Foundation’s Fidias project, which aims to use sport to provide safe and nurturing environments for children at risk of social exclusion. Originally from Argentina, after her father passed away Ruth and her family moved to Spain, where she loves dancing and crafts. Football runs in her family, too, with her mother being a referee.