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Mesut Ozil and fiancee mark wedding by funding 1,000 children’s operations

Arsenal star Ozil and Amine Gulse are supporting the BigShoe charity.

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Mesut Ozil and his fiancee Amine Gulse are to mark their wedding day by funding surgery for 1,000 children.

The pair, who were set to marry on Friday, are making the donation via BigShoe, a charity which funds operations for kids in developing countries with conditions including cleft lips and palates, cataracts, heart defects and burns – and are encouraging others to give money instead of sending wedding gifts.

In an Instagram post, Ozil write: “As a professional footballer I am in a fortunate and privileged position. However, I invite everyone who is willing and able to help to support a very special project close to both of our hearts that we will undertake with @big.shoe11!

“Amine and I will bear the expenses for surgeries of 1,000 children in need. I’d be happy if in addition, many more treatments all over the world can be fulfilled.”

It is not the first time Ozil has donated to BigShoe – the Arsenal midfielder funded operations for 11 children during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and has continued his association with the charity ever since.

Other footballers, including Paul Pogba, Antonio Rudiger and Philipp Lahm, are also supporters of the charity.

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