Bengaluru, May 4 (UNI) The Indian women's hockey team has raised Rs 20 lakh in an attempt to help the poor and migrant workers, whose livelihood been affected due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The Indian team raised the money thorough an 18-day fitness challenge, which concluded on May 3 and resulted in raising Rs 20, 01,130. The raised amount will be contributed to feeding more than 1,000 families.
While the challenge aimed to raise crowdfunding for the cause, the movement also encouraged people to use this opportunity to adapt to an active lifestyle during the nationwide lockdown.
"The response we have received was really overwhelming. People, especially Indian hockey lovers from across the globe took part in the challenge and contributed to the cause.
"On behalf of the Indian Women Team, I would like to thank everyone who took part in this initiative to help the poor," India captain Rani Rampal said.
The challenge involved the team members who came up with different fitness tasks that ranged from burpees, lunges, squats to spider-man pushups, pogo hops and more.
Each day a player gave a new challenge and tagged 10 people on their social media handles to take up the challenge and donate Rs 100 to the fundraiser.
Congratulating the Indian Women's Hockey Team for their initiative, Mohd. Mushtaque Ahmad, President, Hockey India said, "It is very heartening to see the Indian Women's Hockey Team take up such a thoughtful initiative. I have been informed that hundreds of people have already benefited from this cause and have received dry rations, this makes us extremely proud of the players.
'The team has shown that sports people always have a big heart and come forward to help when needed. I not only congratulate the team on behalf of Hockey India, but I also like to thank them for taking this cause up and feeding the needy," he added.
The charity from crowdfunding raised by Indian team was donated to a Delhi-based NGO Uday Foundation and the proceeds from the fund will be used to provide basic necessities for patients hosted at various location, migrant workers and slum dwellers.
Apart from food/ dry ration, the funds will also be used to provide sanitary kits that will include soaps and hand sanitisers.
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