Reza Madadi Opens Up On Feeding The Homeless For Last Two Years
Not all heroes ware a cape. But some real life heroes can kick ass just like the Avengers. And that’s exactly what you could say about former UFC lightweight, Reza ‘Maddog’ Madadi.
Recently a video emerged online of two men feeding the homeless in Stockholm, Sweden. And thanks to some eagle eyed MMA fans, Madadi was identified as one of the two men. Speaking to MMAbetz.com, Madadi said that he had been feeding the homeless for two years. But what’s even more incredible than that is the fact that the 41 year old didn’t tell anyone about this great deed, never looked for any praise or a tap on the back, and never spoke about it until MMA Betz approached him about the video.
Madadi last fought in May of 2017. Once month prior to his last fight, there had been a terrorist attack in his home city of Stockholm. And that is when ‘Maddog’ began to perform these little, amazing acts of kindness.
”It all began in connection with the terrorist attack in Stockholm two years ago. Some friends and I decided to help and distribute some food, fruit and coffee to police officers, firefighters, ambulance drivers and others who worked around the terrible attack. I wanted to drag my straw to the stack and show my support to anyone who worked day and night during the junk hours after the attack. I wanted to help in some way, and show that we are all together in this, that we are all against terrorism.”
This act of kindness resulted in Madadi meeting Jeanette Höglund, the founder of the relief organisation in Stockholm called Vin Din Sida.
”Jeanette saw what I was doing and told me about her project, where she went out and handed out food and drink to homeless seniors. I followed her on one of her rounds and was taken by what I saw. There were older people who didn’t have food or capping over their heads. People who built this country, and this is the thanks they get.”
Madadi was so moved by what he saw on the streets of Stockholm, he started to go out feeding the homeless four or five nights a week. And has been ever since.
”We started going out shortly after the meeting with Jeanette and have now gone four or five nights a week every week for over two years. We are a group of five or eight people who work in shifts, but I go out every night when I am in Stockholm.
”We do not discriminate against anyone. Everyone is human and in my eyes equally worthy. We prioritise older people, but never say no to anyone who are in need of food.”
If you’re in Stockholm and would like to help, Madadi said he isn’t interested in people donating money. But everyone is welcome to join him and his friends when they take to the streets, or donate any winter clothes.
”I don’t want people’s money, I don’t do it to start a relief organisation like that. I cook the food myself, brew the coffee and run out on my own. If you want to help or support us then just hook up one night and do it. Alex [Gustafsson] has been hanging out for once. But we do not accept money. During the winter, however, we can receive clothes that people want to donate, it helps.
”I have been doing this for two years and almost no one knows about it. I am not directly a silent or media-shy guy, but on the contrary if I had wanted I would have screamed about this so that everything and everyone had known about it. But I don’t want it. This is something personal to me. I just want to help people in need. Now a video clip appeared on me when someone was filming on one of our rounds, and you (the media) got to know it all.”
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