A superimposed map of Australia over the U.S. shows the spread of the many massive wildfires raging across the country. [Corrects previous map, which indicated overall regions affected the blazes.] https://t.co/XeL6IjyZWZ pic.twitter.com/fy2JOOsZEt
— ABC News (@ABC) January 7, 2020
Take one look at the above map and imagine if the number of bushfires that are causing catastrophic damage throughout Australia was doing the same in the United States and Canada. That is what the continent has been up against.
According to another Twitter post, the bushfires in Australia have been so widespread that they would cover roughly the entire state of Indiana.
One of Australia’s very own, Liz Cambage, is urging assistance in the fight against the fires. She has even started a GoFundMe for donations to go towards the cause.
PLEASE WATCH
PLEASE DONATE
PLEASE RT
AUSTRALIA NEEDS YOU ❤️ https://t.co/mUBnrllqil pic.twitter.com/4Zyi11IF8f— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) January 7, 2020
@LVAces star @ecambage has started a @gofundme campaign for Australian bushfire relief and support!! #wnba
Link: https://t.co/H5XApKQCjb— Girls Talk Sports TV (@GrlsTalkSports_) January 7, 2020
“Twenty people, so far, have been killed, including three volunteer firefighters. Fifteen-hundred homes have been destroyed, nearly half a billion animals have been burnt to death – for some species, this may lead to extinction,” @LVAces‘ @ecambage said. https://t.co/7ZsgdqFbyp
— FOX5 Las Vegas (@FOX5Vegas) January 7, 2020
For perspective, this area is larger than the countries of both Belgium and Haiti combined. Twenty people so far have been killed, including three volunteer firefighters.
–Liz Cambage
Undeniably, this unfolding tragedy in Australia is climate change based…My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the fires and who have lost everything and we are forever thankful for the volunteers risking it all to save our country.
–Liz Cambage
Seeing as our government has somehow run out of resources and funding, I’m calling on each and every one of you to donate what you can to my GoFundMe page.
–Liz Cambage
In the above video which is on her Twitter and Instagram pages, she said the donations would be split evenly between the Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery and Relief, Country Fire Authority, WWF Australia and First Nation Communities.
To my fellow Australians, we are all in this together. Stay safe, stay strong and I’m sending you all big love.
–Liz Cambage
Cambage isn’t the only luminary of women’s basketball doing her part to help those in Australia affected by the fires.
the devastation from these ongoing fires here in Australia is so heart breaking 💔 in Canberra we are under a constant cover of smoke and I can’t even imagine what it is like for all of those evacuating sending prayers to all affected…stay safe 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 2, 2020
Basketball fans stateside and provinceside know Kia Nurse as being part of the Canadian women’s national team as well as the New York Liberty. Basketball fans in Australia know Kia Nurse through her play with the University of Canberra Capitals of the WNBL, meaning Australia has been home for her away from the WNBA.
Australia has been my home away from home for the last 2 years thanks to the @WNBL …for our next 5 games starting tonight I will be donating $5 for every point my teammates and I the @UCCapitals score to support both the fire fighters and the victims.
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 3, 2020
Her Capitals teammate Kelsey Griffin (also with the Minnesota Lynx) has also pledged $5 for every point her team scores over the next five games.
It began with the Capitals matchup with the Bendigo Spirit. Canberra scored 90 points in a 94-90 defeat to Bendigo. The day after that game, Canberra was scheduled to play the Perth Lynx, a team with Imani McGee-Stafford and Ariel Atkins on its roster, but it was cancelled due to the flames.
She later announced that the donations would be split evenly between the Salvation Army’s Australian branch as well as the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
The fires have impacted so many different people and wildlife. I’ve decided to do a 50/50 split of the money raised to the Salvation Army Australia for the victims and NSW Rural Fire Service for the brave men and women fighting these fires.
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 3, 2020
If you can help in any way please visit these links to donate! Salvation Army: https://t.co/DW5tmasb9B. NSW Rural Fire Service: https://t.co/g40ktWDZZR https://t.co/ad92Cf1awU
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 3, 2020
“As a basketball player I was always told to ‘control the controllable’… Finding a way to support those in need during the darkest of times is controllable,” said @KayNurse11.#GoBIG #WNBL20 https://t.co/mffDqlhKaw
— UC Capitals (@UCCapitals) January 3, 2020
The bushfires have destroyed more than 1500 homes, towns have been evacuated, residents are seeking shelter on boats, power lines have been damaged. If you can help these victims in any way please consider an online donation to the Salvation Army here: https://t.co/DW5tmasb9B
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 5, 2020
The Capitals are scheduled to return to the court on Friday when they face Townsville.
Also lending a helping hand in firefighting and recovery efforts is another Australian women’s basketball notable in Phoenix Mercury coach Sandy Brondello. In her first tweet since July, she announced a $4,000 pledge to the Australian Red Cross.
I have been heartened by the support the Opals/WNBL players are doing to raise money for Australia. I would also like to play my small part in donating $4,000 to the Australian Red Cross. If able, I encourage others to donate as well. Any amount will go a long way. #IPledgeWNBL
— Sandy Brondello (@SBrondello) January 9, 2020
— Sandy Brondello (@SBrondello) January 9, 2020
X-Factor, if able, please join Coach Sandy and her efforts in assisting the Australian Red Cross in their relief efforts for the devastating bushfires taking place.
➡️ https://t.co/9wC2747q7Y https://t.co/pwjs2XaFtr
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) January 9, 2020
Also, the WNBA itself announced its own $50,000 contribution to the Red Cross in support of the recovery efforts.
The @WNBA is donating $50,000 USD to the @RedCross to aid in the relief efforts for the Australian bushfires.
Learn how you can help: https://t.co/UleNpBkXmW
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 10, 2020
