The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has affected the world severely. It has brought the world to a standstill with many countries being completely lockdown for safety and to contain the spread of the virus. Many major sporting events have either been postponed or canceled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic affecting the globe. Cricket has also suffered a similar fate with many international and domestic matches being canceled. Amidst this international crisis, cricketers are helping people with their charity work. Players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are auctioning their cricketing gears to raise money for COVID-19 affected people. Similarly, English all-rounder Ben Stokes ran a half marathon to raise money for Britain’s National Health Service.
World Cup winner Stokes completed the run in one hour and 39 minutes and will donate the money raised to NHS Charities Together and national children’s cricket charity Chance to Shine amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Stokes, who completed the run near his home in the North-East of England, urged fans to donate to a fundraising page set up by three amateur cricketers who ran full marathons in their back garden.
After completing the run, the 28-year-old Stokes shared an important message with his followers. The world Cup winner took to Twitter and wrote, ” I’ve just completed a half marathon to help @GardenMara with their efforts of raising funds for @NHSCharities and @Chance2Shine if you can please donate.”
https://twitter.com/benstokes38/status/1257630097923870720?s=20
Laura Cordingley is the chief executive at Chance to Shine. He said, “For Ben to see their efforts and decide to support them is really amazing. I’m sure he could have raised a huge amount in his own name. But for him to get behind their fundraising page is a really amazing gesture.”
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The pandemic spread of the COVID-19 Virus has affected more than 194,990 people across the United Kingdom. It is responsible for taking away more than 29,427 lives. Originated in China, the virus has now affected more than 3,728,119 people taking 258,356 lives.