Olympism's essence

Clara Hughes's challenge accepted

Right to Play, an international charity which uses sports to improve the life of children in third-world countries, has received nearly $150,000 in pledges since Hughes won a speed-skating gold at the Olympics.

Hughes took the spotlight she earned by winning the women's 5,000-metre speed skating event on the penultimate day of the Torino Games and focused it squarely on the charitable organization.

Shortly after striking gold, Hughes announced she was donating $10,000 of her own money to Right to Play and called on the rest of Canada to make a contribution.