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Mexican goalie thankful for hurricane aid
Campos, in town for the World Cup qualifier against Canada today at Commonwealth Stadium, is anxious to see family in Acapulco, which was ravaged by Hurricane Pauline.
But he took time out of a busy schedule yesterday to respond to a flood of donations from Edmontonians being shipped to survivors of the disaster.
"It's important to tell the people from here that what they are doing, it's very nice, very cool. We will never forget this," said Campos, a diminutive dynamo whose flashy uniforms and spectacular saves have made him a national hero.
"Many people from Canada go to Acapulco for holidays and they will see how important it is."
Though Campos's family was spared the storm's furious brunt, he still hasn't been able to contact them because of downed telephone lines. His grandfather called both Campos and his sister Reyna, who lives in Kamloops, B.C., to tell them their parents and two siblings were fine.
Other less-fortunate Mexicans will get a little extra help picking up the pieces thanks to a flurry of donations through city travel agency Vacations Plus.
"It's been overwhelming," said manager Michael Buckman, who stood next to more than 30 boxes and bags of clothes and canned goods dropped off at his 10729 104 Ave. office in just a few hours yesterday.
"And it's been just Edmontonians, some of whom I imagine have been to Mexico and feel for the people there."
Items collected during yesterday's drive will be flown to Mexico for free by Canada 3000 airline next week. With more than 140 dead and hundreds injured in Mexico, Campos is sure it will come in handy.
But the generosity, and his nation's game against Canada, have done little to take his mind off the disaster. He'll fly to Mexico City with his teammates tomorrow and from there he'll "go home to Acapulco. By car, by plane, whatever I can do.
"Nobody can explain to me from there what it's like so I will have to see."
The Red Cross, meanwhile, continues to accept donations for victims of the hurricane, which hit Mexico on Thursday.
Volunteers, organized by Edmontonian Robert Burns, will be at today's soccer game collecting contributions.
Spokesman Tim Markle said the biggest need is cash.
"Our biggest thing is to make sure we can get the absolute necessities - if it's fresh water, for instance, money will allow us to purchase it quickly."
To make a donation by phone, call 403-423-2680.
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GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan