Former San Antonio Spurs star Tim Duncan stepped up big time
for his native United States Virgin Islands by donating US$250,000 of his own money and donating relief items to people of the territories who are struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
Raised more than $2 million
The retired NBA player raised more than $2 million and collected more than 400,000 pounds of aid including food, supplies and generators.
“People have been wonderfully generous. The toughest part right now? Trying to find transport, and getting it down there as soon as possible,” said 41-year-old Duncan, who retired from the NBA in 2016.
He told PEOPLE Magazine that “It does us no good if it’s just sitting there, down on the ground.”
Grew up on St. Croix
Duncan grew up on the island of St. Croix which was devastated by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. He was 13 at the time and living in St. Croix.
He recalled that harrowing experience. “The howling of the wind and the crashing of things on the wall, the little creaking of the
roof, where you’re thinking it might get pulled off – I remember hearing all of those sounds,” he said.
 reacts to lead relief efforts for his home country St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, devastated by Hurricane Irma.){kind=link}