Ronaldo makes donation to Afghan mine victims on behalf of UEFA
10-04-2008 Feature
Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with a cheque for CHF100,000 (€63,100) by UEFA for the Score for the Red Cross charitable campaign prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between Manchester United FC and AS Roma at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo is the Ambassador for the campaign, which is jointly organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UEFA. The cheque and other funds raised though the on-line game will go towards helping the victims of landmines in Afghanistan recover from their injuries. Around 60 people are killed or maimed by landmines and other unexploded remnants of war in Afghanistan every month.
According to Doris Pfister, the ICRC's director of resources and operational support, Ronaldo's involvement in the campaign will offer hope to children around the world. " It is crucial, " she said. " I have seen several countries where there are wars and conflicts and I have met a lot of youngsters in very difficult situations and all of them in a way like football and for them, somebody like Ronaldo is a dream.
They would like to become like him, a big football star, but in difficult situations someone like him also gives hope. For us it is really fantastic to have such a personality involved. "