Athletes Tour Gulf Coast to See Impacts of BP Oil DisasterOn July 13, 2010, Athletes for Hope members joined forces with other environmentally conscious athletes and the Sierra Club on a trip to witness the oil spill that has wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. 10 athletes in total participated in a boat tour of the affected region, leaving from Myrtle Grove Marina and traveling to Cat Island and Bay Jimmy. Athletes involved included Mike Richter (NHL, former NY Rangers goalie and 3-time Olympian), Mike Alstott (NFL, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback), Ovie Mughelli (NFL, Atlanta Falcons fullback), Leilani Munter (NASCAR), Andrew Ference (NHL, Boston Bruins), Krista Ference (X Games, Snowboarder), Stacey Cook (U.S. Alpine Ski Team, 2006 & 2010 Winter Olympics), Loree Smith (USATF, 2008 Summer Olympics), Gary Morgan (USATF, 1988 Olympics and 17 National Titles), Chanda Rubin (Women’s Tennis player and former #6 in the world). The athletes voiced their support for the Gulf Coast communities and relayed what they had witnessed back to the fans. In particular, they highlighted the connection between sports, health and a clean environment, and what we must do to end our country’s addiction to oil and move towards clean energy. As Athletes for Hope member, Mike Richter, stated, "Seeing this disaster firsthand, I was struck by the vastness of the problem. We have to get off of fossil fuels, oil in particular, now. As athletes we understand the connection between the environment and health. We want everyone to understand these issues aren’t just about the environment; they’re about people, health, economy, and quality of life. This is not a Gulf Coast problem, it’s everyone’s concern. It’s not a someday issue, it’s something we have to deal with now."
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