Over the next month I will going head to head with 60 other athletes in a race to see who can raise the most money for their favorite charity through the Who Gives? Racing for a Cause competition, organized by Athletes For Hope. Even as I continue training for the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver, I am racing for Right To Play in order to give kids around the world the chance to be kids!

Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

As a Right To Play Athlete Ambassador, I traveled to Jordan this past April to see Right To Play programs in action in Aqaba and Wadi-Rum, and became even more convinced that Right To Play makes a huge difference for disadvantaged children around the world. Watching these kids laugh and play together I could see that they were developing self-esteem, a sense of belonging and self-worth, leadership and cooperation skills, and that they were simply living healthier lives. To watch it was joyful in a way that is almost unexplainable!

I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had in life and recognize what sport has done for me: it’s given me confidence, taught me discipline, teamwork and respect, and showed me the importance of fair play and inclusion. Right To Play programs around the world are giving disadvantaged children similar opportunities while improving their lives. These programs are making a difference for our world’s children and in effect for all of our futures ? please join me in supporting this great organization!

No donation is too small, and even a $10 donation provides sports equipment for two children to participate in Right To Play programs!  It also gets us one step closer to the grand prize of $10,000, which would make a HUGE impact in the lives of these young children. There are a lot of great competitors in the race, and I’m going to need all the help I can get in order to win.  So check out the site Right To Play http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/righttoplay/, please tell all your friends, and join me in empowering these kids who need our help so desperately.

Thank you so much, happy holidays and best wishes,

Emily Cook

US Ski Team/US Olympic Team: http://www.emilycook.com

P.S. if you want to follow my progress or check out the competition, visit: http://www.globalgiving.org/athletes-for-hope .