Andre Pederneiras, the renowned coach of UFC fighters like Jose Aldo and Renan Barao, has announced that he is battling COVID-19.
The storied Brazilian trainer announced the news on social media, following an interview with Combate.
However, while the 53-year-old will now self-isolate while coping with the disease, he’s put the focus elsewhere. Specifically, on his charity effort to feed those in need.
You can read the full statement from Pederneiras below (originally in Portuguese)
Good morning everyone!
I took the Covid-19 test and it was positive. I am well, fulfilling my isolation at home, and my biggest concern at this moment is to continue our fundraising campaign, because the hunger of the less fortunate cannot fail to be quenched due to a MOMENTARY low medical in the middle of this war that we are fighting, to feed the less fortunate.
Regardless of whether I am unable to go to the street, our army of ATHLETES AND COLLABORATORS will continue to distribute the basic food baskets at the scheduled times – and as soon as I am free, I will be back in front of everything, buying and distributing the food TOGETHER WE WIN THIS WAR.
Every week I go to the bank to get the statement to account for the campaign. Unfortunately, this week I will have to post the cell phone statement (which I don’t like to do because it doesn’t show the name of André Pederneiras Institute and the value together), but as soon as I’m released to leave, I’ll post the statement the way it came making.
The motto of my life has always been FIGHTING TO WIN, and it will be no different now !! My thanks to everyone who is donating and helping these people in need in some way.
Pederneiras is not the first figure connected to the sport of MMA to test positive for COVID-19. Thus far, Lyman Good, Erick Silva, Jacare Souza, and two of Souza’s corners have all contracted the disease.
