Bono to Auction Off Bike Ride for (RED) Campaign
One year after Bono was seriously injured from a bike accident in New York City’s Central Park, the U2 frontman is auctioning off a bike ride to a donor as part of Shopathon, a campaign for his organization (RED), which raises money to battle AIDS. That ride with rock royalty can be won by donating at least $10 through the Omaze platform. The campaign launches on Tuesday, December 1st, to honor World AIDS Day, The Associated Press reports.
“I’m not sure that was as funny to my band as it was to me,” Bono told the AP, reflecting on the bike accident that prompted surgery. “But I think we’re going to have fun, and yeah, we’ll go visit the scene of the crime.”
The campaign – a co-production between (RED) and VICE Media – will be assisted by Jimmy Kimmel, who is dedicating his December 1st episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to Shopathon with a home shopping parody co-hosted by Olivia Wilde. The episode will also feature Tom Brady, who is donating a lesson on how to “master your spiral,” and Shaquille O’Neal, who is offering to appear in a donor’s holiday card.
Kimmel is also donating a valuable service – the chance to give someone’s “child” the sex talk. “There’s no age limit — if you have a 45-year-old kid, I’ll explain it to him, too, as long as the parents are OK with it. I’m happy to do the job,” he said.
Other celebrity “experiences” include a trip to the Game of Thrones set (to sit on the Iron Throne), spending “quality time with George Clooney as he showers you with compliments,” a makeover with Kim Kardashian, appearing in a “Dubsmash” video with the Backstreet Boys, having your portrait painted by James Franco, meeting Meryl Streep on the red carpet, meeting the Weeknd backstage and partaking in “legal relaxation” with Snoop Dogg on 4/20 at Colorado’s “Merry Jane Wellness Retreat.”
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match every dollar raised up to $20 million, and the entry window closes on January 21st, 2016. Bono will celebrate the 10th anniversary of (RED) on Tuesday at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, appearing with bandmate the Edge, Vice President Joe Biden, Stephen Colbert, Miley Cyrus and Trevor Noah, among others.