Marcus Rashford is an absolute treasure.
Having helped raise millions of pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic to help feed children in need across the United Kingdom, the Manchester United forward will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2021 ESPYS on July 10.
It seems like one thing after another for Rashford, but he deserves all the credit he gets for everything he does — giving back to the community he came from.
Rashford, who speaks about a difficult upbringing and “kind actions” from people within the community and coaches when he was growing up, unbelievably forced the UK Government into a U-turn last year to ensure that children would be fed throughout the summer months during the global pandemic.
The England star wrote an open letter to members of Parliament, calling for change – and the backlash from social media led to further embarrassment for Boris Johnson.
“An athlete is the least we can be,” Rashford said, as quoted by ESPN. “Sport can be the biggest driver of positive change, with its ability to truly unite. If I have achieved anything over the last year, I would hope that it would be to demonstrate to my peers what is possible when we are driven by a passion and determination for better. Better not for ourselves, but for those whose voices are very rarely heard.
“We have a platform to speak on behalf of millions. When we wake up in the morning, we decide what we want to do with that platform. The reward of helping just one will always outweigh the risk of any negativity or criticism thrown my way. I’m honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Pat Tillman Award. A huge thank you to all involved.”
Rashford’s work didn’t stop with the school meals. Just two months ago, he announced the launch of the Marcus Rashford Book Club and a partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books to donate 390,000 books to underprivileged children in the UK.
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