Annika Sorenstam, Muransky Team Up to Help East Palestine

A fundraising effort for the people of East Palestine will get underway this week.

The effort is being launched by local businessman Ed Muransky, owner and CEO of Southwoods Health, with retired superstar professional golfer Annika Sorenstam and her husband, Mike McGee, who manages the Annika Foundation.

They will rally other celebrities and people from around the country for those impacted by the February derailment of a train that spilled toxic pollutants into waterways and the atmosphere.

The trio will unveil the effort Thursday morning at a press conference.

Sorenstam is considered one of the greatest women golfers of all time.  During her 15-year career, she carved her name into the record books several times, amassing 89 worldwide victories, including 72 LPGA wins, 10 of which were major tournaments.

She stepped away from pro golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and her businesses.

On Feb. 3, about 20 of the 150 cars on an eastbound Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in the eastern section of East Palestine. Some of the cars were carrying hazardous materials, including butyl acrylate and vinyl chloride.

Pictured at top: This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed Feb. 3 in East Palestine still on fire at midday Feb. 4. (AP Photo | Gene J. Puskar)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.