Canadian Olympic silver medalist Andre De Grasse of Scarborough, Ontario is recommending that all Canadians make a financial contribution to Canadian food banks if they are able. De Grasse was one of 14 Canadians in the sports community who participated in the Stronger Together benefit on Sunday which raised over $6 million to Canadian food banks according to 580 CFRA Radio in Ottawa.
De Grasse, who won a silver medal for Canada in the men’s 200 metres as well as bronze in the men’s 100 metres and 4×100 metre relay at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, said the following:
“Just recently I was preparing for my second Olympic Games. Now, I cannot even get an appointment with my barber. But seriously though, COVID-19 is affecting each of us in different ways. For many of us it has slowed down the pace of our life, and given us time to connect with our family and friends. We are all making sacrifices of different sorts. Going hungry isn’t a sacrifice any of us should have to make. So, I encourage you if you have the means to join the Andre De Grasse Foundation and make a donation to Food Banks Canada to ensure we stay strong together. With collective patience, discipline, and generosity, we will get through this.”
In addition to De Grasse, Canadian sports personalities who participated in the benefit were Canadian women’s hockey gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan; Canadian figure skating gold medalist Tessa Virtue of London, Ontario; Canadian soccer Olympic bronze medalist Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, British Columbia; Toronto Raptors stars Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam; Canadian Olympic swimming gold medalist Penny Oleksiak of Toronto, Ontario; 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Tennis champion Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario; Edmonton Oilers hockey star Connor McDavid of Richmond Hill, Ontario; wheelchair racer Rick Hansen of Port Alberni, British Columbia; Ultimate Fighter Champion Georges St-Pierre of Saint-Isidore, Quebec; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canadian men’s hockey gold medalist Steve Yzerman of Cranbrook, British Columbia.
Currently, there are 48, 500 cases of coronavirus in Canada. There are also 2,707 deaths.
