updated 4:21 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2006

TURIN, Italy - Joey Cheek has his first assignment from Johann Olav Koss: Zambia.

The American speedskater will head to the African country in April on a humanitarian mission for Koss’ Right To Play group, which uses sports to promote a healthier lifestyle for children in poor countries.

Cheek donated $40,000 in bonus money to Koss’ organization after winning a gold medal in the 500 meters and a silver in the 1,000. Koss won three speedskating golds at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.

“I’ve always admired Joey as a skater,” Koss said Friday. “But I admire him even more as a person.”

Cheek’s money will go toward Right To Play projects in the war-torn Darfur region of the Sudan, where some 180,000 people have died and 2 million forced to flee in a bitter conflict. He also wants to visit the area, but Koss said the situation is too volatile at the moment.

So, Cheek will travel to Zambia in early April to discuss HIV prevention, a message that is especially important for girls and young women. He also will be invited to speak at an international AIDS conference, which will be held at Toronto in August.

“We know what sports has meant in our lives,” Koss said. “We want to create a healthy, safe world and give these children an opportunity to lead a better life. There’s too many evil forces out there trying to recruit them into negative activities.”

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When Cheek donated his prize money from the U.S. Olympic Committee, he challenged his sponsors and other corporations to match the gesture. According to Koss, $300,000 already has been donated to Right To Play, along with thousands of dollars in individual contributions.

Cheek became interested in Darfur while traveling on the European speedskating circuit. He was amazed at how much coverage the conflict received from the international media — and how little it was talked about in the United States.

“The Sudanese government has basically sponsored militias to slaughter an ethnic minority,” Cheek said. “When I was waking up in the morning to go on a three- or four-hour bike ride to get ready for the Olympics — while that may be grueling — it paled in comparison to what these people are going through.”

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Cheek also is being considered for the honor of carrying the U.S. flag at Sunday’s closing ceremonies. Another speedskater, Chris Witty, was the flag-bearer at the opening of the games.

“I don’t know if it’s going to happen,” Cheek said. “If someone else gets it, I would be happy for them. In some ways, it would be nice not to have the attention. I would like to just walk in as a part of the team.”

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