A mystery international act will headline a 'Live Aid'- style charity concert in Auckland next year to raise enough money to save 1 million premature babies, Sir Ray Avery has announced.
On Wednesday he explained his plan to hold a concert at Eden Park next Waitangi Day, with proceeds going towards sending 2000 LifePod incubators across the world at a cost of $4 million. Each incubator would be able to aid 50 babies a year for 10 years each.
Organisers are still in the process of getting council approval, Sir Ray said on Wednesday. It is unclear who Sir Ray has lined up to perform, but he says it will be announced in two months' time.
It will be the performer's first time playing in New Zealand, Sir Ray says.
Sir Ray is a scientist whose low-cost and sustainable medical devices, invented in the garage of his Mount Eden, Auckland, home, are making a difference to millions of the world's most vulnerable.
His creations include intraocular lenses to combat cataract blindness, an intravenous flow controller to prevent fatal drug administration errors, and a high tech low cost, low maintenance incubator that will save lives of premature babies in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.
He has also developed a high protein, pre-digested formula, using by-products from New Zealand's meat and kiwifruit industries. It is produced in Nepal.
All his products have a global use, both in the developing and developed world, and the demand for them provides ongoing funds for his charity, Medicine Mondiale.
In 2010 Sir Ray was named New Zealander of the Year. In 2011 he was awarded a knighthood for his services to philanthropy.
Newshub.
