The Power of MC Sociology: Olympic Athletes Auction Off Medals, Give Proceeds to Cancer-Stricken Children

Zoha Tariq, a 19-year old sophomore from Pakistan studying at Montgomery College, wrote a nomination letter to the International Fair Play Committee (IFPC). Zoha's letter addresses two Olympic athletes, Piotr Malachowski and Ewa Durska, both Olympians have selflessly auctioned off their Rio 2016 medals to fund children's cancer treatment. In doing so, they have shared their remarkable success with others who are desperately in need of assistance. You can see Zoha's letter below. Under the guidance of Montgomery College professor Dr. Leszek Sibilski, Tariq and her fellow students were successful in getting recognition for Malachowski and Durska. They will both be awarded the World Fair Play Diploma at the World Fair Play Awards Ceremony organized by CIFP will take place at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels, Belgium on November 17, 2017. Please see the attached pdf which is the letter from the IFPC president to the Olympians. You can read about their selfless act on Dr. Leszek Sibilski's blog here. Zoha's Letter Dear International Fair Play Committee, I, Zoha Tariq, am a 19-year old sophomore studying at Montgomery College in Maryland, United States of America. This academic semester, I chose to take the Sociology 100 course, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am writing this on behalf of my entire Sociology 100 Fall 2016 class. Our Sociology teacher, Dr. Leszek Sibilski, a former member of the Polish National Olympic Cycling Team, in his article: http://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/olympic-spirit-still-alive-poland-s-olympian-and-paralympian-auction-their-rio-2016-medals-fund has opened our eyes to what it really means to be a successful athlete. It is not winning gold medals and trophies; it is about how one uses those achievements to make this world a better place for all of humankind. In this email, I would like to talk about two truly amazing athletes and human beings: Piotr Malachowski and Ewa Durska. Both Olympians have selflessly auctioned off their Rio 2016 medals to fund children's cancer treatment. In doing so, they have shared their remarkable success with others who are desperately in need of assistance. The funds raised by Olympian, Malachowski's silver medal went to pay for the medical treatment of a 3-year-old boy, Olek, who has been fighting retinoblastoma for the last two years. The Paralympian, Ewa Durska donated her gold medal to a 9-year-old girl, Wiktoria, who has been fighting leukemia, saying that the medal was nothing resting in her closet, but it could save someone's life if put to use. These hard-earned medals represent the success achieved from years and years of grueling hard work, irrefutable passion and relentless dedication by these athletes. They have made many sacrifices in both their personal and professional lives to get to this point. However, when most would hold tight to their victory and even brag about it, these two athletes have shown the utmost respect to their fellow human beings by using their victory to help those in dire need. I feel it our duty to return their kindness by rewarding them for their sacrifices and respecting them for their strong spirits. The stories of these two athletes have inspired the students at our college on a very personal level and we would like to nominate these two remarkable Olympic athletes and fantastic fellow human beings for the Fair Play Awards. I, on behalf of the entire Montgomery College Sociology 86 student body, humbly request that you please consider Piotr Malachowski and Ewa Durska for the Fair Play Award. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Zoha Tariq and my 85 classmates along with our professor, Dr. Leszek Sibilski