Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, which supports families caring for a seriously ill child, has paid tribute to George Michael’s invaluable support as it marks what would have been his 60th Birthday on Sunday June 25.
In a video tribute on Rainbow Trust’s website the charity’s Chief Executive Zillah Bingley described the “invaluable contribution” George made highlighting the importance of supporting families caring for a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.
So inspired by Rainbow Trust’s founder, Bernadette Cleary, and her reasons for setting up the charity, George pledged his support, later becoming patron in 1997.
His support manifested itself in different ways including donating some royalties from his duet with Elton John Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me, which went to Number one in the charts after being released in 1991 and he launched Rainbow Trust’s 1997 fundraising appeal to which he invited a host of fellow stars including Julie Walters, Paul Young and Tony Hadley.
In honour of his memory, Rainbow Trust has also put together a collage of images from the fundraising appeal on its social media channels.
“George Michael was fundamental to Rainbow Trust in so many ways,” Zillah said.
“His contributions have helped us vastly in terms of the support we provide to families caring for a seriously ill child. He helped raise our profile really, really, well and highlighted the importance of supporting families with a seriously ill child.”
In a personal letter from George to Rainbow Trust founder Bernadette, George wrote: “I am proud to be a Patron of Rainbow Trust. They have cared for hundreds of families over the years, many of whom are in desperate situations with a very sick child. It is impossible to imagine the grief and stress of being told that your child may die. Rainbow Trust helps to keep families together at times of crisis, caring for brothers and sisters, and offers the family their Family Support Workers at times of sadness and enormous strain. Rainbow Trust deserves our full support.”
