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I have been supporting England and Manchester United since 2002 and my obsession with Beckham started when I saw his last minute free-kick against Greece that booked them a place at the World Cup finals, one of the most outstanding moments of the decade.
He was not the best football player of my generation. He had no left foot to speak of. He did not have the pace of Ronaldo or skill of Messi.
What he did have was an out-of-the-world magical right foot, a huge heart and dedication towards this wonderful game of football. He may have had as many hairstyles as he did goals, and as many tattoos as endorsements, but there are very few people who can mesmerize the crowd and panic the opposition, seemingly against the law of physics.
Apart from football, he has committed to using his powerful global voice to raise funds and encourage world leaders to work towards the betterment of children and the society. So, let’s look at some of his philanthropic interests that will make you love and respect him even more:
1. David Beckham is a founding member of the Malaria No More UK Leadership Council
The world has known how to beat this disease for more than a century, yet it remains the number one killer of children. So, they are raising funds to make malaria-related deaths a thing of the past.
2. He supports ‘Help for Heroes’, a charity aimed at helping injured service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
The mission is to inspire and enable the wounded, who have made sacrifices for the nation, to achieve their full potential.
3. His own charity, the Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust, helps disabled children
This trust provides wheelchairs to sick and disabled children.
4. David pledged his support for the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ campaign in 2005
He took part in a series of films along with Amitabh Bachchan, Robbie Williams and Liam Neeson to promote the campaign’s message.
5. In 2008, he went to Sierra Leone to bring attention to the country’s dire child survival conditions
His tour focused on child mortality and brought worldwide coverage to the issue.
6. The next year, David visited South Africa to work with children and families living with HIV and AIDS
This trip highlighted the progress being made on limiting the transmission of mother to child HIV.
7. In 2012, he delivered an open letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of a global hunger summit
It had around 50 high profile signatories and he wanted an assurance from world leaders to reduce child malnutrition by 2016.
8. After 1.7 million children were displaced and many lost their lives in Typhoon Haiyan, he travelled to the Philippines to meet children and families affected by the powerful storm
He still now supports them with health care, counseling and safe places to play and learn.
9. He launched ‘Children in Danger’ campaign which aims to protect children from violence, disease, hunger and the chaos of war and disaster
Robbie Williams was a part of this campaign too.
10. In 2014, he recorded a video message to beat Ebola which was broadcast across Sierra Leone and reached over 2 million people
Sierra Leone was one of the worst-affected areas. One in four children die there before reaching their fifth birthday.
11. Beckham travelled to Cambodia to help children who have endured physical sexual, emotional abuse. And to protect vulnerable children from danger.
“It is shocking that every five minutes a child dies because of violence somewhere in the world. This has to stop.” , believes Beckham.
12. This year, David Beckham and UNICEF launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund to help protect children in danger
He has committed to using his powerful global voice, influence and connections to raise vital funds and encourage world leaders to create lasting positive change for children.
Riches and awards in abundance, but the perfect gentleman, the ambassador and the patriot. That is David Beckham for you.
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