- Nasima Akter
Mbappe Makes Surprise Video Appearance for Turkey Aid
French football superstar Kylian Mbappe made a surprise appearance during an online fundraiser for Turkish earthquake relief on Wednesday. The event was hosted by the Turkish Football Federation and aimed to raise funds for victims of the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last month, claiming more than 45,000 lives.
The event was a fundraising telethon aired live on Turkish television by the national broadcasters TRT Sport, A Sports, SportsTV, D Smart Sports, S Sport, Tivibu Sports, TV8 and Club televisions, TRT Radio, Radio Gol, Radyospor, League Radyo, as well as many digital media channels.
Mbappe's Appearance
Mbappe, who has pledged his support to those in need amid the humanitarian crisis, called into the live program to draw attention to the importance of raising money for the victims.
During the broadcast, Mbappe expressed his sympathy for those affected and said, "It must have been a tragedy too great for our imagination. I have a hard time estimating what the Turks went through. But our task today is an extraordinary one for me."
The Paris Saint-Germain forward also pledged to use all the means at his disposal to help children affected by the disaster, adding, "I will do my best for Turkey as well. I think everything will be much better for Turkey. I hope we can make many children laugh again."
Mbappe's surprise appearance at the fundraiser is a testament to his commitment to supporting important causes. After speaking on the stream, he tweeted a picture of the Turkish flag alongside several emojis, highlighting his support for the relief campaign.
Which Aid Group is Mbappe Supporting?
The specific aid group that Mbappe was supporting during the fundraiser is called Shoulder to Shoulder.
Shoulder to Shoulder is an aid group backed by the Turkish Football Federation. They aim to provide relief for victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The group's mission is to bring communities together to help each other during times of crisis, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable children and families.
Through fundraising and donations, Shoulder to Shoulder provides essential supplies and services to those in need, including food, shelter, medical care, and education. The organization's efforts have been critical in the ongoing relief efforts in Turkey and Syria, and they continue to receive support from individuals and organizations around the world.
What Else Happened at the Event and Before It
In addition to Mbappe, players, and managers like Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Ruud Gullit, Mikel Arteta, and Arsène Wenger made an appearance at the event.
Aside from this, the event raised 845.7 million Turkish liras ($44.8 million) in a single day for the victims of last month’s devastating earthquake.
Included in the amount was a $2.6 million (50 million Turkish liras) donation by European Club Association (ECA) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Before the fundraising event, Jerseys and kits of football stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Gigi Buffon were auctioned off by Turkish soccer player Merih Demiral last week to aid survivors of the fatal earthquake.
