Gebrselassie is one of Ethiopia's best-known figuresEthiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie has donated nearly $50,000 to a committee set up to fight the spread of coronavirus in his homeland. The Covid-19 National Resource Mobilisation Committee was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday in Ethiopia, where there are currently 21 reported cases. Haile donated one million Ethiopian birr ($30,213) from a range of his businesses while half a million birr (USD 15,106) came from the Great Ethiopian Run, which was founded by the two-time Olympic champion. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy has donated a month's salary to the fund"Our collective and concerted efforts to help one another in times of great need will be the only way we overcome." Gebrselassie joins other African sportsmen, like Senegalese footballer Sadio Mane, in using wealth gained from their sporting careers to help their home nations battle coronavirus.

Source: Ethiopian News March 29, 2020 16:23 UTC