Friday, March 23, 2012

Auburn’s Bo Jackson biking to Bama for tornado relief

By: LivingCrimson

Bo Bikes BamaThis being a Crimson Tide blog, we usually can be found giving Auburn a very hard time. There’s a wee tiny sports feud in Alabama called the Iron Bowl, in case you haven’t heard.

Occasionally, though, along comes a show of character from the opposing camp that everyone can applaud. Enter one of sports all-time greats, Bo Jackson. The Heisman winner and #1 NFL draft pick is putting his considerable muscle behind a relief effort to benefit those in need after the April 2011 tornadoes in Alabama.

Beginning April 24th, 2012, Jackson will be cycling across the State of Alabama through towns and cities ravaged by the tornadoes, ending in Tuscaloosa on April 28th. He hopes to raise $1 million for the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund, which was established to help Alabamians with unmet recovery needs. A staggering $1.2 billion is still needed for the long-term recovery effort.

Sponsored by Nike, Trek and other industry leaders, Jackson also wants to refocus the nation’s spotlight on the continuing rebuilding efforts in the State. The federal government declared Alabama a Category 1 natural disaster ─ the same ranking given to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and the terrorism on 9/11 ─ but the vast scope of the tornado devastation is hard to understand without a visual impact. Jackson will video and photograph each area he travels through to remind us all that much work remains to be done.

Kudos to Bo Jackson for giving back to his home state.

 


Donations to Jackson’s relief effort are handled through the United Way of Alabama here.

Bo Bikes for Bama is also accepting donations of $200 per each leg of the journey to ride along with Bo Jackson. Register and donate online here.

For Tuscaloosa relief efforts, donations to Tuscaloosa Habitat for Humanity can be made here.

Donations to the Nick and Terry Saban Foundation ─ Nick’s Kids 14 for 14 ─ can be made here.


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