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LONDON: Leeds United players have donated £ 25,000 ($ 33,000) to a campaign providing free school meals to children in Britain after drawing inspiration from the efforts of Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, captain Liam Cooper said .
On Thursday (October 22), Rashford urged local businesses to tweet with the hashtag #endchildfoodpoverty, allowing the 22-year-old to locate them. Several have come forward to provide free mid-term school meals in the UK.
“Let’s do this in Leeds. No child should go hungry. £ 25k guaranteed from team @lufc. We’re with you @Marcus Rashford,” Cooper tweeted Saturday, adding that the team would continue to support the cause.
Rashford forced a government U-turn in July when he won his battle to guarantee free school meals during the summer holidays. He then proposed extending the campaign for families receiving financial assistance from the government.
On Wednesday, Parliament rejected a Labor Party motion to extend free school meals until Easter 2021 from the cutoff before the midterm and winter holidays, prompting the England international to launch its campaign in the social networks.
Rashford has received widespread praise for his efforts, including from United’s rivals, with Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard among whom they expressed admiration.
“I’m not sure I can come up with better words than much smarter people, but what Marcus has started is absolutely amazing, it’s so nice,” Klopp said.
“It’s nice to show in an age where a lot of people who are really in charge and show no signs of proper leadership, that a child grew up in difficult circumstances and … never forgot his roots.”
Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil tweeted: “Congratulations on all your amazing work @MarcusRashford. What you are doing is an incredible achievement … Keep up the great work.”
