Mercedes Benz

“It is a great honour for us to be able to support a public figure like Nelson Mandela who has influenced entire generations and has inspired people,” said Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “In recognition of Mandela as a symbolic figure for the next generation, and in appreciation of his efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, children have decorated a new Mercedes-Benz C 350 with their handprints.” For a number of years, Mercedes-Benz has also supported a number of projects through the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation aimed at raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and helping those who are directly affected.

Before the concert, Tennis legend Boris Becker, who serves as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz and a representative of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, visited socially disadvantaged children in London. The children were delighted to place their different coloured handprints on the sedan, and afterwards they came along to attend the concert. During the music event, a large number of performing artists such as Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Queen and Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, the Sugababes, Razorlight, Jamelia, Zuccero, Geri Halliwell, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, the Soweto Gospel Choir Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel, and Qunicy Jones added their autographs to the children’s prints on the car. A number of prominent concert visitors like Vodafone McLaren Mercedes-Benz driver Lewis Hamilton, and actor Heiner Lauterbach also signed the sedan to endorse the campaign by Nelson Mandela. The autographed Mercedes-Benz C 350 was presented for auction to the “46664” foundation on Friday.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday on 18 July. He launched the “46664” campaign against HIV/AIDS in 2003. “46664” was his prisoner number during his detainment on Robben Island, where he spent 18 of his 27 years of confinement. He was a nameless prisoner there with the number “466”, imprisoned since 1964 – and thus “46664”.