Alonso makes sizeable donation to healthcare staff

Jamie Woodhouse
Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso has joined the fight against coronavirus by making a sizeable donation to help those who are battling the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced multiple countries across the world to go into lockdown with the number of people who have died from the virus now over 39,000.

Recently it was announced that seven Formula 1 teams would come together as part of ‘Project Pitlane‘ to develop equipment to aid those battling the coronavirus which attacks the lungs.

And now Alonso is also doing his part to help by donating 4,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) and 300,000 masks to healthcare workers who are fighting the virus.

Alonso serves as an ambassador for UNICEF.

Sporting fixtures around the world have ground to a halt due to the pandemic, with the IndyCar series joining Formula 1 and a host of other categories in having to delay the start of their respective seasons.

The Indy500, which Alonso will compete in, has been pushed back from May to August, with the season itself set to get underway in May.

But, Alonso thinks it would be “optimistic” to expect the 2020 IndyCar season to begin with the Detroit double header in two months’ time.

“It is tough to imagine the 30th of May being the first race on the new calendar,” said Alonso in an Instagram chat.

“Hopefully this is happening, but it may be a little bit optimistic.”

The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama was set to take place this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park before it was shelved, and Alonso said that he had planned to be in attendance.

“My plans were initially going to the sim in Charlotte for a couple of sessions and then to Barber to watch the race there and then the Indy 500 preparations,” he said.

“Now it’s not happening in May, fingers crossed in August, we will see [everyone] there.

“Now with the team, with McLaren, trying to figure out a little bit of the new calendar and the new simulation sessions that Chevy will open hopefully soon. We are in standby, it’s the same for everybody. So waiting here at home, trying to do some fitness and some exercise.”

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