Remember the famous Ice Bucket Challenge? It was to raise awareness on ALS. The full name of this disease is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It is related to the brain’s nerve cells and the spinal cord. ALS is commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease” because the latter, who was a New York Yankees baseball player, was diagnosed with it almost 90 years ago.
Today, Cristiano Ronaldo has once again added his voice to the cause by associating himself with the Stefano Borgonovo Foundation.
"Stefano was a great striker and a real fighter on and off the pitch. He loved football as much as he loved life. Therefore, I have decided to support Borgonovo Foundation and to fight ALS and I invite all to do the same," declared the Save the Children global artist ambassador.
Back in August 2014, the 31-year-old Portuguese superstar who could become his country’s first captain to lift a major international trophy in Sunday night’s UEFA Euro 2016 final, shared a video of him performing the Ice Bucket Challenge for the sake of ALS awareness.
Ahead of Portugal vs France, Ronaldo has reportedly invited Chantal Borgonovo, the widow of former Italian striker Stefano Borgonovo.
"I couldn't believe my ears when Jorge Mendes called me the other day & told me that Ronaldo wants me to come to Paris," she revealed.
"Cristiano and Jorge have always been very close to my family. I am happy and grateful that they continue to remember my husband and support us in our fight against ALS.
"I am looking forward to the Euro Final and to discussing the Foundation’s efforts with the football community present."
Ronaldo invites Chantal Borgonovo to EURO final https://t.co/d3PGG8zVEr pic.twitter.com/s5a8fQ3ErS
— Fondazione Borgonovo (@OnlusBorgonovo) July 8, 2016
Stefano Borgonovo was diagnosed in 2008 and struggled with ALS while battling rumors that his deteriorating body structure meant that he was on drugs. Through a computerized system which could read his eyes, Stefano wrote his autobiography entitled ‘Born striker’. He died at the early age of 49 in June 2013, only a few months after officially becoming part of FIFA’s anti-doping fight.
He left behind his grieving wife and his four children.
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