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Donation boxes set up in Lower Mainland to raise money after devastating quake

Sumeet Sharma, a powerlifting gold medalist for Team Canada, is raising funds for communities affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the Middle East.
Sumeet 1-1
Canadian powerlifter Sumeet Sharma, who is involved in community fundraising events, is once again raising money for disaster relief.

Sumeet Sharma is a superhero in our midst.

The Burnaby-based powerlifter, who recently was raising money to help flood victims in Pakistan, is now donning his superhero cape once again to raise money for victims of the devastating earthquake that shook Syria and Turkey.

The Team Canada athlete, along with his sponsors, have partnered with The Syrian American Medical Society Foundation (SAMS) to raise money for the people of Syria and Turkey, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in those countries, Sharma said.

"The money will go towards medical services for the people of Syria and Turkey,” he said.

Donation boxes will be set up in New Westminster at Douglas College. Donors can also head to boxes set up in Surrey at Supplement King locations in Strawberry Hill Shopping Centre, in the Newton Square Mall and at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond to donate money for the relief efforts.

As of this publication (Feb. 7), the 7.8 magnitude earthquake across the Middle East has claimed over 6,300 lives, a toll that is expected to rise.

Sharma, who represented Canada at the North American Powerlifting Championships in Costa Rica last October, is well known in the community for his fundraising campaigns. He helped give back to front-line workers and health care professionals in 2020, and last March helped support Ukraine before helping raise funds for Pakistan after flooding in that country displaced millions of people. 

This July, he will take part in powerlifting competition at the 2023 World Police & Fire Games in Winnipeg and will represent Canada at the North America Powerlifting Championship in Mexico in October. 

Donations can be made through the boxes at any of the locations or through the SAMS website.