Warwickshire: Cricketer Hanuma Vihari has set up a network of almost 100 people on social media to help the people and families who are suffering from Covid-19. He is currently playing County Cricket in England for Warwickshire. His network includes friends from Andhra, Telangana, and Karnataka who are helping with providing plasma and oxygen cylinders, while also arranging food and hospital beds.
"I have around 100 people on a WhatsApp group as volunteers and it's their hard work that we have been able to help a few people. Yes, I am a well-known cricketer, but I am able to help because of their untiring efforts to reach the distressed. Even my wife, sister, and a few of my Andhra teammates are part of my volunteer team. It's so heartening to see their support," Hanuma Vihari told PTI.
"I don't want to glorify myself - I am doing it with the intention of helping people at the ground level, who actually need every help possible in these difficult times. It is just the start," he added.
Vihari's Twitter account is full of tweets providing help to the needy:
Hanuma Vihari is also part of the squad that is bound to travel to England to play the World Test Championship in Southampton on 18 June 2021.
"With the second wave being so strong, getting a bed became a difficulty and that is something which is unthinkable. So, I decided to use my followers as my volunteers and help as many people as I can. My goal is to actually mainly reach out to those people who are not able to afford or arrange for plasma, beds, and essential medicine. But this is not enough. I would like to do more service in the future," Vihari concluded.