Marcus Rashford has made it practically impossible for football fans to dislike him after his campaign for school children to continue having access to feeding vouchers throughout the summer holidays in England got upheld by the government.
At the earliest, the British government had planned to scrap the programme after the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic but Manchester United’s Rashford appealed by penning an open letter to parliament members.
He highlighted the relief the programme would bring to lean-pocket parents who were barely able to handle the general upkeep of their homes.
Following two days of public pressure led by Rashford, Downing Street announced a “Covid summer food fund” to help feed children from low-income families during the six-week summer break.
The new scheme works out as £15 (#7, 300) per week for each recipient and a spokesperson for UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it will cost around £120 million (#58, 500).
The 22-year-old has already raised more than £20m for charity during the lockdown period and has also been involved in a number of other charitable initiatives in the past.
The England International is already regarded as a hero as his club tweeted in praise.
A spate of sensational tweets have been made in admiration of the football striker after the programme was extended.
The England international is working his way back to full fitness after suffering a back injury in January’s FA Cup replay against Wolves.
He was enjoying the season of his life before being sidelined and it was feared he would miss the remainder of the 2019/20 campaign before the Premier League was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
The three-month break in play has allowed Rashford to heal and hopes are high that he can pick up where he left off.
