Chris Long reacted quickly to the news of the act of violence Saturday in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia.
The native Virginian simply wanted to help.
"It's been tough," Long said after Sunday's practice at the NovaCare Complex. "When a situation like that arises, because it's in my hometown, people don't want to hear silence. People don't want to see people stand idly and watch stuff like that happen."
The tragedy claimed the life of Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old woman, and injured 19 others. On Saturday night, Long tweeted a link to a GoFundMe site that was set up to raise money for the victims. As of this post, the relief organization has almost reached its goal of $50,000.
"I've been lucky to be given a lot through this great game - money, resources, opportunities. I think the bare minimum as an athlete is to give back," Long said. "I don't think it's anything that anyone should be applauded for, I think that's my responsibility."
Long is no stranger to using his platform to aid others. Long started a foundation in his name to raise money for Waterboys, which provides clean, safe, and sustainable drinking water to rural communities in East Africa, after being stunned by the poverty he witnessed while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2015. He has returned multiple times since to witness the installation of the wells. Waterboys has raised over $1 million to aid 75,000 people in the last two years.
