Cristiano Ronaldo and Eden Hazard donate signed memorabilia to Nepal Earthquake victims

Ronaldo donates signed shirt to a 13-year-old earthquake survivor from Nepal

Cristiano Ronaldo is a role model to millions of kids who aspire to become a great football player like him one day. The Portuguese star is known for his generosity, and he gave another example of that when he made the gesture of donating a signed shirt to a Nepal earthquake victim.

The Nepal earthquake saw the death of more than 5,000 people, but the 13-year-old Jetin Shreshta kept kicking the ball around the street not knowing the destruction mother nature had caused to his homeland and the people around him. Ronaldo surprised the survivor by sending a signed shirt of his famous number 7. The shirt also had a personal message, “Jetin be strong, best wishes Cristiano Ronaldo.” according to The Telegraph.

This kind gesture by Ronaldo wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the two journalists, Omar Havana and Magarida Mota, who got in contact with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes. The story of the boy who kept playing through devastation was told to Mendes and it kicked off a series of events that led to Ronaldo’s signed shirt and wishes making it all the way to Nepal.

Jetin Shreshta was amazed when a package arrived at his hometown Banepa in central Nepal. “I love Cristiano Ronaldo, I love Real Madrid,” he said. “One day I would also love to play for Real Madrid, because I love football,” he added.

Eden Hazard and Chelsea do their part

Sandesh Basnet puts on a shirt sent to him by Chelsea Football Club

A Chelsea fan has also received goodies from the club he supports thanks to the efforts made by the journalists Omar and Magarida. The joy on the 14-year-old Sandesh Basnet’s face on receiving signed items from his favourite player Eden Hazard was proof of the impact football can have on the masses.

The little boy is an amputee, having lost his legs when the rubble of a police school collapsed on him during the Nepal earthquake. The lack of immediate treatment for the boy meant that eventually when they reached the hospital, doctors were unable to save his legs.

Photojournalist for Getty Omar Havana was in the region working on another project when he met Sandesh and learnt about his love for the English champions. The journalist contacted the Chelsea foundation and relayed Sandesh’s story to them, and the organisation through their Charities Administrator Sally Mills made sure a set of gifts from the club and Eden Hazard were sent to their little fan in Nepal.