AYUDA Sa Atleta, a campaign to help supplement the domestic needs of national athletes during the Covid-19 pandemic, has gained momentum after more individuals and companies pledged to help in cash and in-kind.
A total of P350,000 in cash was raised so far, P250,000 of which was the seed fund from sports patron and softball association president Jean Henri Lhuillier.
Primovit vitamins from Britton Pharmaceuticals and Biocare Lifesciences Inc. and Alaska’s Philippine Basketball Association team pledged 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 Lito Cinco was national para athlete Adeline Dumapong pledging to help the cause.
“We are very happy that this campaign is inclusive of para athletes like us , that is why I volunteered to help raise funds too,” Dumapong, a bemedaled powerlifter, said.
“This is a big help for us during the crisis,” para athletics athlete Maritess Burce said.
Para bowler Roger Carpio, blind para triathletes Jeroe 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,” Carrasco said.
Karen Tanchanco Caballero, Nino Sinco and Alex Wang donated personal funds to the program.
“A lot of personal friends who prefer to remain anonymous were ready to help out,” said Cinco, who could be reached at 0920-9241981.