Nelson Mandela hopes that this will help raise further awareness and funds for his charity 46664 in the campaign to fight HIV and AIDS worldwide. The Nobel Peace Prize winners said, "You all know that I am supposed to be retired but when you retire it means that you can have time for birthdays. My friends and the charitable organisations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so of course I want to help them. London wants to celebrate my birthday and I said I would go if they would raise funds for our charities. So, we have a bargain - I am going to London and they there will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds."
There are no acts confirmed for this event yet, rumoured bands include Queen and The Spice girls. There will be an official announcement regarding the line-up and celebrities who are attending made soon.
46664 is all about spreading the message of AID/HIV prevention, to communities and schools to engage the youth who are at most at risk.
46664 was the prisoner number of Nelson Mandela from his imprisonment on Robben Island, Cape Town in 1964 until his release in 1990. 46664 became the title of Mandela's campaign charity with the aim of raising awareness of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. 46664 generates funds, develops and supports practical programmes for the prevention, testing, care and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
The not-for-profit organisation is supported by over 80 international ambassadors from music, sport and entertainment who help Mandela in his ongoing fight to raise awareness of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
article by: Scott Williams
published: 05/03/2008 13:59