Athletes Come Together for Bushfire Donations
January 10, 2020
Athletes from across a number of sports have come together pledging thousands of dollars to the Australian Red Cross and other fundraising efforts in response to the devastating Australian bushfires.
Dozens of Australians have died or are unaccounted for while many properties have been lost as bushfires continue to burn across Australia.
A renewed donation drive among the nation's sporting stars began when Nick Kyrgios called on Tennis Australia to host a fundraising event before the Australian Open. On Friday, Tennis Australia responded by announcing a "Rally for Relief" exhibition match on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, January 15. They will also donate proceeds from a Jessica Mauboy concert on January 19 to the Red Cross appeal and grant $1 million for communities to rebuild tennis facilities.
"I'm kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer," Kyrgios wrote on Twitter, with the hashtags #MoreToCome and #StayTuned.
Kyrgios was quickly followed by his Australian teammates as Alex de Minaur pledged $250 per ace, while John Millman and John Peers will donate $100 per ace. Women's tennis players Sam Stosur ($200), Priscilla Hon ($50) and Storm Sanders ($10) will also donate for every ace they send down in competition.
Every ace served by any player at the men's ATP Cup in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth over the next 10 days will send $100 to the Australian Red Cross. With hundreds of singles and doubles players taking part, the tournament expects the final figure to surpass $150,000.
“Most of the players are already keen to score aces and win a quick point, and having the chance to raise money for the bushfire appeal will give them that extra bit of motivation," ATP Cup tournament director Tom Larner said.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia will throw open the gates to firefighters during two Sydney Cricket Ground one-dayers in March, and confirmed that the money raised would go to the Red Cross to support those affected by fires, while the governing body is also currently auctioning signed playing shirts from the Boxing Day Test.
Elsewhere in sport, high-profile American National Basketball League import LaMelo Ball will send one month of his salary to the cause. "It’s sad to see what is happening on the South Coast of Australia. People have lost their homes and everything they own," the 18-year-old Illawarra Hawks player said.
"My parents taught me to help out wherever I can, so this is my way of helping out."