Former Canada ‘keeper, Toronto FC defender ask for hurricane relief help

TORONTO — Former Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, who spent her early years in Dominica, has added her voice to those asking for urgent help for the hurricane-devastated Caribbean island.

LeBlanc, now retired from soccer, is a UNICEF Canada ambassador.

“Dominica is my home, and right now her heart is breaking,” LeBlanc said in a  statement Tuesday.”The situation there is just devastating. People’s homes have been destroyed. Electricity and clean water are non-existent. Security is deteriorating. The situation is already awful, but it’s now becoming potentially catastrophic.”

UNICEF says more than 20,000 children are in urgent need of support, with the water supply currently out for more than 90 per cent of the island and the electricity down.

Dominica was battered by hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm.

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LeBlanc’s parents are from Dominica and she was raised there until she was eight when the family moved to Canada.

LeBlanc isn’t the only athlete asking for help for their homeland.

Toronto FC defender Jason Hernandez, a Puerto Rican international, took to social media to ask for assistance in the wake of hurricane Maria.

‘Thankfully my family is OK, Many people aren’t as lucky. Please find it in your heart to donate. Every bit helps in a time like this,” he tweeted.

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For information about the Hurricane Maria Relief Fund in Dominica, visit www.unicef.ca/dominica

For information about the Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief Fund, visit 

https://www.youcaring.com/familiesaffectedbyhurricanemariainpuertorico-956792

or the Carmelo Anthony Puerto Rico Relief Fund

https://www.youcaring.com/puertorico-956698

The Canadian Press