Geneva/Nyon (ICRC) – Real Madrid star forward Cristiano Ronaldo is donating 100,000 euro to the physical rehabilitation programme of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan.
The Portuguese footballer was recently awarded the sum from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for having featured seven times – more than any other player – on the uefa.com user’s Team of the Year.
"The ICRC is delighted to receive, for the fifth consecutive year, this support for its physical rehabilitation activities in Afghanistan," said Caroline Welch-Ballentine, the ICRC's director of human resources, who will be accepting the donation on behalf of the humanitarian organization. "That these activities – and more importantly, the need to help people who have lost their limbs – are viewed as a priority by UEFA and stars like Ronaldo continues to be greatly appreciated."
Ronaldo, who donated a similar amount to the ICRC in 2008, said: "For me it's a great honour to be able to help others, and it makes me extremely happy to do so."
UEFA’s partnership with the ICRC dates back to 1997, when European football’s governing body pledged its support for the ICRC’s anti-landmine campaign. This will be the fifth time that the ICRC will benefit from the cheque offered by UEFA in connection with the selection of the uefa.com users’ Team of the Year. Over the past few years, Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol have also donated their awards to the ICRC’s physical rehabilitation programme in Afghanistan.
Since 1988, the ICRC's limb-fitting and rehabilitation programme in the country has helped more than 90,000 mine victims and other disabled people. Apart from supporting their physical rehabilitation, the ICRC also helps disabled people play a vital role in the community by financing education, vocational training, employment and small-business activities.
For further information, please contact:
Bijan Farnoudi, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 21 80 or +41 79 536 92 59
UEFA Media Services, tel: +41 848 04 27 27
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid hands over a cheque for 100,000 euro to the ICRC in support of the organization’s physical rehabilitation work in Afghanistan. Perhaps encouraged by his good deed, Ronaldo went on to score Madrid’s only goal against Manchester United in the match that followed, bringing the score to 1-1.
© UEFA
ICRC physical rehabilitation centre, Kabul, Afghanistan.
A boy practices walking with his calipers.
© ICRC / K. Holt / v-p-af-e-01733
ICRC physical rehabilitation centre, Kabul, Afghanistan.
A member of staff at the ICRC rehabilitation centre adjusts Fahrad’s caliper. Like Fahrad, many children in Afghanistan contract polio because the security situation prevents them getting vaccinations.
© ICRC / K. Holt / v-p-af-e-01743
ICRC physical rehabilitation centre, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Patients play basketball.
© ICRC / J. Barry / v-p-af-e-01836