Today Fernando Pimenta offered 15 reusable individual protective equipment for cases of covid-19 to the Volunteer Firefighters of Ponte de Lima.
The commander of the Limian corporation thanked the Olympic athlete for his solidarity and recalls the umbilical relationship that links him to the firefighters of the oldest village in Portugal.
“Fernando Pimenta was practically born and raised in the fire station, given that his father has been a firefighter for almost 30 years. Therefore, he always had this affection with all the volunteers and, when he has an opportunity and knows that the firefighters need this or other type of equipment, he supports us whenever he can. And once again he was supportive ”, stresses Carlos Lima in a conversation with O MINHO.
Fernando Pimenta, in statements to our newspaper, underlines that this contribution “is not only because it was created by firefighters, it is more because I know the work they do and the risks they run in their daily lives. Most are volunteers, they receive little or nothing in return for what they give to all of us. Aside from my father being a firefighter for many years, my sister also more recently becoming a firefighter and having some friends in the corporation, of course it helps. If we can make a contribution and know that they are more protected for the hours of greatest distress, even better ”.
Necessary equipment
The canoeist, several times champion of the world and of Europe and silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games, spoke previously with the command of the firefighters to understand the material that was most needed. And personal protective equipment for cases of covid-19 is now a clear need of the corporation.
“We have already placed several orders with the parish councils, the council and some individuals, because it is equipment that is already difficult to acquire from suppliers and, afterwards, prices have changed a lot and it is already starting to be a bit difficult for the association to continue to support those values ”, stresses the commander.
“And knowing that it is a situation that will last for a long time, we must always have backup equipment. Suspected cases appear every day and we have to be properly protected ”, he adds.
In addition, the pandemic led to a revenue shortfall: “The corporation’s main source of revenue, which was the non-urgent transport of patients, has drastically reduced and we are not managing to have enough revenue to keep firefighters well protected.”
It is because he is aware of these difficulties that Fernando Pimenta seeks to “help institutions in a direct way”. And by making these solidary gestures, as a public figure, he also ends up setting an example for society.
“I’ve been a partner with the firefighters for some time. Being a firefighter partner costs 12 euros a year, one euro a month. I know that for some families it is a lot of money, but if we go to see the work of the firefighters, it is very little ”, stresses the athlete, concluding that“ the most important thing is that people help ”.
Ponte de Lima with 22 cases of covid-19
Ponte de Lima has 22 confirmed cases of covid-19 infection, according to the DGS epidemiological bulletin released this Wednesday. It is one more infected compared to the previous day.
Braga, with 692 (+45 than yesterday) and Guimarães with 236 (+17) are the municipalities in the Minho region most affected by the pandemic.
Next are the municipalities of Barcelos with 141 (+3), Viana do Castelo with 120 (+10), Vila Verde with 92 (+2) and Arcos de Valdevez, which maintains 44.
Terras de Bouro, Paredes de Coura and Valença, with 6 and Ponte da Barca and Cerveira, with 4 confirmed cases, are the least affected municipalities.
All municipalities in Minho already have registered cases.
Portugal today registers 599 deaths associated with covid-19, 32 more than on Tuesday, and 18,091 infected (643 more), the report said.
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