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Sir Elton John remembered AIDS
sufferer Ryan White on the red carpet of his annual AIDS foundation benefit on
October 15. He called the teenager’s death a major turning point in his own
life, which John described as “out of whack” at the time. Ryan White, a
hemophiliac, contracted AIDS in 1984 because of a blood transfusion and was
expelled from middle school. Elton John was with the boy and his family when
White died in 1990. After White’s death, Elton John decided to become sober
and, within the next two years of achieving sobriety, started the foundation.
John said that while “great strides”
are being made in research and behavior, there is still a long way to go. “The
stigma involved in people coming out and saying they’re HIV-positive is still
an underground thing; it’s still a shame-based thing until we can get everybody
tested and people to come out and be role models to people who have HIV, then
we’re still battling against this disease,” stated John.
In 1992, John established the Elton
John AIDS Foundation, which continues its global humanitarian efforts to raise
money for a variety of services, including campaigns to end the stigma and
discrimination, prevention programs, and treatment, care, and support services
for people with HIV/AIDS. The foundation presented Enduring Vision awards to
Diana Jenkins, the chairman, CEO, and founder of the beverage company Neuro;
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; and Joseph Blount, an ardent
benefactor to the foundation since its beginning.
Celebrities at the benefit included
Stevie Nicks, who performed; Brooke Shields; Lance Bass; Courtney Love; and
Alan Cumming. The Elton John AIDS Foundation raised $2 million at the October
15 event.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
