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Olympic Champion Shows Support for Hurricane Victims
Written by
Bonnie J. Gillespie
, Staff Writer and Photographer, RedCross.org
Thursday, September 30, 2004 — It was only a few weeks after returning from Athens, Greece, with three Olympic medals that 16-year-old gymnast Carly Patterson faced an obstacle quite different from intense athletic competition – she met Hurricane Ivan face to face.
Olympic champion Carly Patterson visited with Red Cross staff after touring the Disaster Operations Center. |
While in Tallahassee, Fl., training for an exhibition tour, Patterson and a number of fellow gymnasts were forced to relocate to Alabama as the dangerous storm threatened to make landfall. But even after evacuating initially, Patterson had to flee again when the hurricane changed course and headed toward Alabama.
Over the next several days, Patterson witnessed firsthand the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, and the scene of devastation prompted the young Olympian to take action.
“Seeing people losing their homes and everything, then having to move – it was just so sad,” said Patterson. “I can’t imagine what they must have felt like.”
But now Patterson is doing her part to help hurricane victims recover – by donating to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
On Sept. 30, the gymnastics star delivered a $3,000 donation in person to Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C. and toured the state-of-the-art Disaster Operation Center, learning more about the unprecedented relief efforts taking place in Florida and throughout the hurricane-ravaged areas.
“I really like to get involved and help out whenever I can,” Patterson said. “I hope young people see me doing this and know they can make a difference, too. I really want to set a good example.”
In her sport, Patterson sets the highest of standards and in Athens became the first American woman in 20 years to win the All-Around Olympic Gold Medal. The Louisiana native also took home a silver medal in her specialty, the beam, and joined her teammates in capturing silver medal in the team competition.
But beyond gymnastics floor, Patterson also has a heart of gold and shines with a sincere desire to help others. When asked if she would like to volunteer with the Red Cross one day, she answered with a bright smile, “Yeah, I think that would be really cool.”
You can help the victims of hurricanes, floods and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting our Online Donation Page.
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