Lauryn Williams crosses the finish line in the women's 100m final (© Getty Images)
11 has a great meaning for World 100m champion Lauryn Williams. ‘10 something’ is the time she hopes to run whenever she competes against world-class competition in the 100m. This end of year holiday season, however, it also translates into the amount of money she will donate to 20 deserving families in the Miami area of the USA – a total of $10,000.
Lauryn is working with a radio station Hot 105, WHQT, in Hollywood, Florida to donate $500 each to 20 families in need this holiday season. The money will be awarded just in time to make their holidays a little more festive. “It’s my way of acknowledging those less fortunate who have suffered through the devastation of the hurricane season this summer,” said Lauryn, a 2004 graduate from the University of Miami.
“I’ve been very fortunate to achieve a few of my dreams this year,” she continues. “This is the least I can do to show my support for my community and fulfill some of their holiday wishes.”
Williams who shot to fame with a silver medal in the 100m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, then took a gold medal at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland this past summer in a time of 10.93 seconds. She also took gold in 4x100m Relay in Helsinki. The IAAF World Ranked number 3 100m sprinter hopes to run as many 10-second 100m races as possible in 2006 to maintain her ‘sub11’ status in 2006.
Williams is also involved with the IAAF’s humanitarian project ‘Athletics for a Better World: The IAAF Stars’ Donation Fund’s' having donated her 2005 World Championships winning bodysuit and her Team USA top to the IAAF.
Williams' autographed donations will be auctioned on 16 January 2006, and all profits made will be donated to the United Nations Associations: FAO, UNICEF and WFP.