AYUDA SA ATLETA, a campaign to help national athletes in this time of the pandemic, is gaining momentum as more individuals and companies pledged help both in kind and cash.
The total amount raised to date is around P350,000, including the P250,000 seed fund from sports patron and ASAPHIL president Jean Henri Lhuillier, plus pledges for Primovit vitamins from Britton Pharmaceuticals and Biocare Lifesciences Inc., and Alaska’s PBA team for powdered milk and chocolate milk drinks.
What was encouraging for the private sector group, headed by former Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Tom Carrasco and project initiator and Manila Standard columnist Lito Cinco, was the offer to help raise funds by a national para athlete in powerlifter Adeline Dumapong.
“We are very happy that this campaign is inclusive of para athletes like us, that is why I volunteered to help raise funds, too,” she said.
Athletics’ para athlete Maritess Burce seconded: “Malaking tulong po ito para sa amin sa panahon ng krisis na ito. Looking forward po kami sa programang ito.”
Other para athletes like bowler Roger Carpio, blind para triathletes Jero and Joshua Nelmida, Aris Carbonel and Jerold Pete Mangliwan also welcomed the program.
“We have finalized the first ‘ayuda’ packs containing vitamins, energy drinks and food, plus personal hygiene products and will start ordering them already,” said Carrasco on behalf of the group, that includes Karen Tanchanco Caballero, Nino Sinco and Alex Wang, who all donated personal funds to the program.
“A lot of friends, who preferred to remain anonymous, readily gave when tapped for a little help. Whatever amount is welcome,” said Cinco, who can be reached at mobile no. 0920 9241981.
