Tracy McGrady: Darfur's Newest Advocate

Don Cheadle has another supporter in his efforts to bring awareness to the crisis in Darfur: NBA player Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets.

On January 4th, McGrady visited his alma-mater, Auburndale High School in Florida, to announce his "Stand Up for Darfur" humanitarian project. In front of 400 students, he asked them for their help in his new endeavor.

This all began last summer when McGrady spent four days in war-torn Darfur at the encouragement of his fellow Rockets teammate, Dikembe Mutombo, who was born in Zaire. McGrady shared with the students his desire for giving back in Africa:

"When you get some success, you want to give back and do charitable things because you feel that's the right thing to do. My first year in the league, I thought about giving back and I did give back. But it took me a while to really understand how much of an impact that I have on people. Now that I realize that, being 28 years old, and I want to really expand my charitable effort outside the country."

He also shared with the students that he knew the trip would have a huge impact on him:

"I knew it was going to have a huge impact on me," McGrady said. "One night when I was tired from everything that was going on that week, I went to bed about 9 o'clock, but I woke up early because we were leaving the next day. I was just staring at the ceiling, reflecting on everything that I went through, and I actually started crying."

McGrady's visit to Darfur is chronicled in the documentary, 'Not A Game' that was filmed during his trip.

He will donate $75,000 of his own funds to renovate and build schools, train teachers and provide school supplies and clothing.

For more information, visit the Tracy McGrady foundation website: http://www.t-mac.com/tmac/foundation/

Source: TheLedger.com
Photo: Gary Bassing/NBA/Getty