Support for players who are suffering in the lockdown
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

The PSA Foundation – the charitable arm of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) – has today launched its ‘We Are One’ fund in order to support professional squash players who are experiencing both financial and emotional difficulties due to the impact of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.

The ‘We Are One’ fund is a player-driven initiative which aims to bring the global squash community together to provide relief to the players that need urgent financial support following the suspension of the PSA Tour.

The PSA Foundation hopes to garner support from across the whole squash community, including PSA players and tournament promoters, while the PSA are fully committed to supporting the fund.

Fans can also support the ‘We Are One’ fund, and their generosity will be met with a range of rewards, including clinics and Zoom calls with top PSA players, SQUASHTV subscriptions and PSA apparel.

Funds will be distributed to ensure that those players that really need the aid are supported throughout this uncertain period and that their dreams of returning to court when the PSA Tour resumes are not compromised in any way.

“The PSA Foundation is dedicated to helping support players both on and off court and this global crisis has led to many players finding themselves in unexpected emotional and financial difficulties, so we hope the ‘We Are One’ fund will go some way to helping these players to overcome these challenges,” said PSA Foundation Manager Adriana Olaya.

“In order to ensure that they can come out of this situation and continue to pursue their dreams as athletes, we need to support them now off court, so we are able to cheer for them on court once again in the future. This is the time to bring our community together to make sure we come out of this stronger.

“The players of the PSA Tour captivate us with fantastic displays of athleticism and sportsmanship, and it’s with great anticipation that we await their return to action. But for now, we need to ensure the professional players remain safe, healthy and can continue competing in the sport that we all love and miss.”

PSA Women’s President Sarah-Jane Perry said: “It is more important than ever that we work together to provide help and support to those who need it most. For the ‘We Are One’ fund to be effective, it needs the support of as much of our great community as possible.

“However much the community may be able to give will be a huge help in providing relief to PSA players who do not have anywhere else to turn.

“On behalf of all the PSA players whom this will help, I would like to thank the squash community for its generosity in such difficult times and hope everyone is staying safe.”

For more information on the ‘We Are One Fund’ or to donate, visit the website.

Pictures courtesy of PSA