India cricketer Rishabh Pant on Saturday pledged an undisclosed amount of money to procure oxygen cylinders with beds and kits for those affected due to COVID-19, amid the nation’s fight against the second wave of coronavirus. The 23-year-old said that he would donate the amount to Hemkunt Foundation, an NGO in Gurugram.
“I am supporting the Hemkunt Foundation through a monetary donation that will help provide O2 cylinders with beds, Covid-relief kits and much more to those suffering across the country”, said Pant said in a post on Twitter.
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Pant conveyed his respect to the country’s frontline workers, who have been working tirelessly to help the COVID-19 patients from the start of the pandemic. “However, the cause of helping India overcome these unprecedented times needs all our collective efforts”, he wrote.
“One of the most important aspects I have learned from sport is the power of working together as a team for a common cause,” added Pant.
Essential supplies such as oxygen cylinders and ventilators, hospital beds and some crucial medicines are some of the things that the country has been struggling to supply sufficiently as it battles a second wave of coronavirus which has been killing over 3000 people on a daily basis.
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“The scale of despair across our country has been immense and something I have been deeply affected by. As someone who has seen personal loss up close, my heart goes out to all the families who have suffered over the past year and I pray for the souls of those who have left us”, said Pant.
“I am keen to work with organisations providing medical aid and support to rural India and non-metro cities, which do not have the capacity of medical infrastructure than that of the major cities.” Pant asked people to come forward and join the fight against COVID-19. He also urged the people to get vaccinated.
“I urge everyone to contribute in their own way so that we can help reach the remotest part of the country and spread awareness about COVID relief and vaccination programs being run by the central and state governments,” he said.
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“Please remember to stay safe, follow safety protocols, and get vaccinated, when possible.” Several cricketers, including Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Jaydev Unadkat, Hardik Pandya and Pat Cummins have already made contributions to help India’s fight against the pandemic.
