Folayang, Vera join celebrities in COVID-19 fundraiser

Hometown heroes Eduard Folayang and Brandon Vera are set to lead a stellar cast of mixed martial artists and internatio­nal celebrities in ONE Championship and Global Citizen’s collaborative effort to help combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“‘Together At Home’ is a series of no-contact concerts and online content to help raise funds to battle COVID-19 and to inspire people around the world to stay at home, stay inside and practice social distancing,” promotion founder and president Chatri Sityodtong wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.

“We have to do what we can to stop the spread of the virus,” Folayang told the Inquirer.

TV hosts Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, among others, will host the show. Lady Gaga will curate the musical performances that will feature the likes of Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift.

The event is set to be broadcast across ONE’s social media platforms globally beginning Sunday, April 19, 2 a.m. Manila time, with replays over a 24-hour period.

Folayang, a former lightweight champion, and Vera, the reigning heavyweight kingpin, lead the crop of MMA stars who are set to do a home workout and Q&A session.

“I’ll have my wife in tow,” Folayang said. “She’ll do some shadow boxing. I’ll do exercises people could do while at home.”

Ten percent of the proceeds off purchases from ONE’s online store will also be directed to the World Health Organization’s COVID-Solidarity Fund.