With Freddie Mercury being as iconic now as he was in his heyday as the frontman of Queen, it is difficult to believe that he died 20 years ago on 24 November 1991. Whilst Freddie's name has been kept in the public eye by the ongoing activities of the remaining members of Queen, few know about the charity that was set up in his memory to fight AIDS worldwide.
The Mercury Phoenix Trust was launched at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in April 1992 by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Queen's manager Jim Beach. Since then it has quietly gone about its business, raising awareness and helping educate those in the developing world of the scourge that is AIDS. Over 15 million dollars has been raised and distributed to AIDS charities around the world.
In memory of the 20th anniversary of Freddie's death the Trust has launched a unique initiative 'The Mercury Phoenix Trust Global Charity Network'. The Global Charity Network will enable those AIDS charities that the Trust already helps and new charities that will join the network to make use of Freddie's name and likeness by licensing to them an online package consisting of photos, posters, and other imagery. All monies raised by the local charity utilising the licensed package can be distributed by them for their own good works locally.
Over the next 20 years the Global Charity Network will continue to fight AIDS worldwide in memory of the great Freddie Mercury and in the spirit of the statement that he released the day before he died of AIDS related causes.
"The time has now come for my friends and fans around the world to join together worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease."
For further information on the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Global Charity Network, please visit www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com