Bono breaks U2 pledge against golf to help AIDS charity
NASHVILLE — When the members of the rock band U2 were just young Irish lads, they made a pledge to each other that has remained steadfast throughout their decades-long run as rock stars. But frontman Bono said the band is now willing to break that promise in order to raise money for his (RED) charity in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“U2 made a pledge early on, as teenagers actually, when we formed the band that the one thing we would never ever do — and it was a sacred pledge — was to play golf,” Bono said. “We didn’t think it was rock ’n’ roll.”
The chance to play a round of mini-golf with one of the world’s most popular rock bands is just one of the once-in-a-lifetime celebrity experiences that are being raffled off at Omaze.com/ RED as a part of the (RED) Shopathon campaign for World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. For a $10 donation by Jan. 18, you get a chance to work out with Charlize Theron, go to a movie première with Reese Witherspoon or visit Seoul with K-Pop star Taeyeon.
Formed by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (RED) has raised $500 million US in the past 11 years to provide testing, prevention, treatment, counselling and care services in eight subSaharan African countries.
Bono said the need for attention was more critical now that that treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS are at a tipping point.
“There are more people now on anti-retroviral drugs than are newly infected,” Bono said. “Right at this moment, defeat could be seized from the jaws of victory. People are talking about cutting budgets on Capitol Hill and other capitols around the world.”