Monaco; 31 October 2014: HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, IOC Member and WOA Patron who participated in Bobsleigh at five Olympic Winter Games, has made a video plea to Olympians all over the world to support the WOA’s #TargetEbola campaign which aims to raise funds to help stop the spread of Ebola in West Africa.
The #TargetEbola campaign was launched earlier this month after Dr Francis Dove Edwin, two-time Olympian from Sierra Leone who was appointed to the Presidential task force to help stop the spread of Ebola in the country, asked the WOA to raise funds to help combat the virus.
In order to do this effectively, the WOA has joined forces with Oxfam, one of the world’s leaders in emergency response, and US humanitarian NGO Medisend International, a global leader and innovator in transforming healthcare systems in developing countries.
In a plea to Olympians and the sporting movement around the world, five-time Olympian, HSH Prince Albert II, said in a video statement:
“Fellow Olympians, the Olympics made each and every one of us part of an international brotherhood. The people of West Africa need our help.
Millions are suffering from the effects of Ebola and it is only going to get worse. We can help stop the spread of Ebola. Please support the Target Ebola campaign. Promote #TargetEbola and targetebola.org. Help save lives and stop the spread of Ebola.”
HSH Prince Albert II last week became the latest Olympian to support #TargetEbola joining the fastest man in the world and six-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Usain Bolt, and other Olympic legends including Carl Lewis, Sergey Bubka, Claudia Bokel, Koji Murofushi, Pernilla Wiberg and Yang Yang who are already supporting the campaign.
Speaking outside of the Grimaldi Palace in Monaco, HSH Prince Albert II, added:
“As Olympians we are in a privileged position to help others who are less fortunate than us. It is our responsibility to spread the values of Olympism and provide support for those who need it most. That is why I am encouraging my Olympian colleagues, my friends in the Olympic Family and those in the wider world of sport to help in any way they can by supporting the #TargetEbola campaign.”
The WOA is appealing to the rest of its 100,000 strong Olympian community around the world to get involved and publicise #TargetEbola, the donation link, www.targetebola.org/donate, and the SMS details, Text TARGET to 70066 [UK only], by posting selfies via social media [See note to editors for details on the downloadable ‘selfie kit’].
Last week, members of the South West chapter of the US Olympians and Paralympians Association including 2014 USA Bobsled Olympian Johnny Quinn joined volunteers at the Medisend HQ in Dallas, Texas, to help load containers of medical supplies which are being flown to Sierra Leone as part of the World Olympians Association’s #TargetEbola campaign. —- Rob Fawdon
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