Marcus Rashford has called on the British public not to forget underprivileged families and children, as he continues to urge the Government to "make the U-turn" on its decision not to extend its food voucher scheme.
The Manchester United star penned an open letter to MPs on Monday asking the Government to "find its humanity" after it was announced that free school meals would not be provided into the summer.
Rashford admits he was kept up at night before his letter was released over crippling fears his efforts will not bring change.
"People often ask me how it felt to score the deciding penalty against PSG to knock them out of the Champions League last season," he wrote in The Times. "My answer is always the same: did we go on to win the tournament?
"I have been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received over the last 24 hours, from MPs and members of the public.
"But the feeling I have is exactly the same as when we got knocked out of the Champions League against Barcelona in the next round: what did we achieve if we didn’t get the result we needed?"
In his letter to MPs, the 22-year-old England forward highlighted that "nine out of 30 children in any given classroom were living in poverty in the UK" last year.
He added that "45 per cent of children in Black and minority ethnic groups are now in poverty" and insisted the problem will only get worse as unemployment rises following the coronavirus pandemic.
After the Department of Education said it would not reverse the decision, Rashford wrote "we aren't beaten yet" and called on people to remember the situations of those less fortunate.
"When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown #maketheuturn," he said on Twitter.
"When you turn on your kettle to make a cup of tea or coffee think of those parents who have had to default on electricity bill payments just to make ends meet having lost their jobs during the pandemic #maketheuturn.
"And when you head to the fridge to grab the milk, stop and recognise that parents of at least 200,000 children across the country this morning are waking up to empty shelving #maketheuturn.
"Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning ‘why?’ 9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking ‘why?’ ‘Why does our future not matter?’ #maketheuturn."
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