Sachin Tendulkar donates INR 1 crore to ‘Mission Oxygen’ for importing concentrators to India

Sachin Tendulkar helping

India’s legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday (29th April) announced he has made a donation to ‘Mission Oxygen’ – an initiative launched by a group of 250+ entrepreneurs to raise funds for importing oxygen to India. As the country battles with a second wave of coronavirus, Tendulkar has made this critical contribution to the relief work.

With oxygen being the need of the hour, non-profit organisations, corporates and even citizens are coming forward to arrange for oxygen cylinders, concentrators, cans, ventilators and other necessary equipment. The required amount of medical-grade oxygen is not present and Tendulkar, with the support of Mission Oxygen, seeks to improve the grim situation.

Here’s Tendulkar’s official statement:

Sensing the importance of acting fast, the entrepreneurs and youngsters have all come together and in a matter of few days, have funded, procured, and delivered oxygen concentrators in hospitals. Via “Democracy People Foundation”, based out of Delhi-NCR, Tendulkar will be donating around 200 oxygen concentrators. Nearly 10,000-plus patients will receive the benefits of this.

Further, the group of entrepreneurs has already placed an order for 1600 more concentrators and are looking to raise Rs 10 crores more to serve rising demand. Here is the link to the fundraiser.

Amidst the pandemic, Tendulkar has continued to contribute and lend support to the nation. Last year in March, the Master Blaster had donated Rs 25 lakh each to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra’s Relief Fund. He had also supported a non-profit organisation named Apnalaya which fed around 5,000 underprivileged people in difficult times.

With the number of COVID-19 positive reaching an unprecedented height, the requirement for plasma has shot through the roof. Tendulkar had inaugurated a plasma donation centre in Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai as early as June 2020. The legend also confirmed that he will be donating his plasma once the doctors allow him to do so. On the occasion of his birthday (24th April), Tendulkar appealed to the masses for donating their plasma if it was deemed permissible by their doctors.

We request you all to follow the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the government. Do not step out of your house unless necessary. Wear masks and practice social distancing if you have to step out. Wash your hands at regular intervals and clean them thoroughly. Let us wholeheartedly support the COVID warriors in defeating the virus.