Australian golfers Mark Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones, Cameron Davis, Cameron Percy and Rhein Gibson and their supporters are donating up to $800 per birdie and $2000 per eagle at this weeks Sony Open which will be matched by the Presidents Cup and the PGA Tour towards the extensive bushfires that are devastating their country.
To date, more than 7.3 million hectares (17.9 million acres or over 28,000 square miles) have been burned across Australia's six states – an area larger than the American state of West Virginia. The burn area is also larger than the countries of Belgium and Denmark combined.
For comparison, the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires burned more than 7 million hectares while California’s wildfires combined to burn just over 100,000 hectares in 2019 and 404,000 hectares in 2018.
Multiple fires are still raging. There have been 24 lives lost and destruction of homes is in the thousands. The wildlife of the country has also taken a cataclysmic hit also with estimates of half a billion animals being affected.
They are calling on pro golfers around the world to join in. Firefighters and volunteers are flocking to Australia to help, many at their own expense.
This is an unprecedented national crisis with temperatures soaring over 50*c.
Here are some sites where you can make a donation.
There are several ways people can support the cause including through Leishman’s Foundation at http://beginagainfoundation.com/donate/.
Other ways include:
The NSW Rural Fire Service https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/fundraising
The Victorian Country Fire Authority https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa#donate-cfa
The Queensland Fire and Rescue team http://www.givit.org.au/disasters
South Australian Country Fire Service https://cfsfoundation.org.au/donate
Western Australia https://www.bushfire.org.au/product/support-the-association-supporting-volunteers/
Wildlife donations can be directed here https://www.wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund
Bryan Angus
