Fort McMurray boy has Bono's back

Written by Holly Hashimi
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 10:41

Nathaniel Crossley with U2 lead singer Bono in 2011. Crossley is currently leading an effort to raise funds to assist in helping schools in Tanzania and Malawi have access to clean water and sanitation services. (Supplied)What started as a way to offer support to Irish singer Bono, has turned into an effort to help those in Africa.

Grade 5 Sister Mary Phillips student, Nathaniel Crossley, started a Facebook page called “Bono I Got your Back!” in 2010 after hearing about the U2 front man’s back injury which caused the band to postpone part of its North American tour.

“I wanted to do something to cheer him up,” said the 10-year-old. “He was in the middle of a tour, so I didn’t want anybody to feel bad.”

The page, which currently has 1,756 “Likes,” has since morphed into a fundraising effort for the African Well Fund, which was originally created by U2 fans inspired by Bono’s 2002 trip to Africa.

“Struck by the relatively low cost of building a well and the enormous difference that a well can make in the life of a village, we were convinced that raising the money to build a well was an easily achievable goal,” says the African Well Fund website. “It was from this conviction that the African Well Fund was born.”

Gathering inspiration from others

As ambassadors to pack-a-day-smoker-turned-marathoner-turned-philanthropist Ray Zahab’s impossible2Possible organization (which inspires and encourages through adventure learning and expeditions), Nathaniel and his dad Blake first heard about Ryan’s Well Foundation, which Zahab is a part of.

Ryan Hreljac was just six years old when he founded Ryan’s Well, a clean water foundation, in 1998.

“He was inspired by Ryan’s actions and the way that young man went,” said Blake.

According to www.ryanswell.ca, Hreljac started speaking to service clubs, schools and anyone who would listen about helping provide clean water in Africa.

Today, Hreljac is a third-year student at University of King’s College in Halifax and is studying international development and political science—but he remains involved with Ryan’s Well foundation as a speaker and board member.

Helping in Africa

Nathaniel is raising money for the Wash in 30 Schools in Tanzania and Malawi Project.

The project, run by Africare, is designed to meet needs for potable water for 30 schools in Tanzania and Malawi, as well as long-term needs of students and staff like improved water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. The project will also reach students’ and staff family members outside the school. They intend to provide PUR water purification tables in schools, build and/or improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure and promote positive hygiene behavior in communities by educating students and teachers in proper hygiene and sanitation practices.

The proposal states the total cost of the project is $519,326. Organizers are also predicting in-kind contributions of nearly $320,000.

According to Africare’s proposal for the project, only an estimated 24 per cent of Tanzania’s population has access to safe water and improved sanitation. Sixty-five per cent of Malawi’s population lives below the poverty line—28 per cent of that in extreme poverty.

Keeping it in the family

Philanthropy runs in the Crossley family. Blake is the main contact for www.makepovertyhistory.ca for Wood Buffalo.

As part of the campaign for makepovertyhistory.ca, a banner was sent across Canada and delivered to the prime minister. On its way, it made stops with Oxfam and at U2 shows across the country. About 20,000 signatures were collected prior to delivery to the prime minister’s office.

Blake was also the founder of an Oxfam volunteer group in northern Alberta; has helped organize Hungry 4 Change and Music 4 Change banquets; and has visited Africa working as an educator and caregiver to children affected by the HIV crisis.

“The best way to inspire is through the youth,” said Blake, who works at Keyano College. “It is important because they are tomorrow’s leaders…and they come up with some amazing, inspirational ideas.”

Full circle

In 2011, Nathaniel met Bono at the hotel he was staying at in Denver, Colo.

The pre-teen told the singer about his Facebook page and plans to help fundraise for the African Well Fund.

“He knew about it too,” said Nathaniel. “He said, ‘Nathaniel, do you got my back?’”

How you can help

On Feb. 24 Nathaniel will be unveiling a wishing well at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre. The well will be used to collect donations for his fundraising project.

While he currently has raised about $600 through donations and T-shirt sales, he is hoping to raise $5,000.

The T-shirts are being made by Eddie Farrell, a stranger to Nathaniel, but a believer in his work. The $30 cost of the shirts sees 50 per cent going toward the fundraising effort.

He also got a boost from Elsha Stockseth in Utah. Stockseth is another supporter of U2 and their causes and donated $200 from the sales of her handmade cards for Nathaniel’s project.

To donate to Nathaniel’s fundraising effort, visit www.africanwellfund.org/donate.html and click the Donate button in the Donate to a Specific Project box (choose Malawi-Tanzania). Users will be redirected to a Paypal page where they can fill in their information. Nathaniel asks donors to note “Nathaniel’s Well” in the Instructions box, so they can keep track of the funds he raises for the project.

Those not wanting to use PayPal can send a cheque—information is on the website as well.

T-Shirts are available at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre or at scriptureshirts.net.

For more information about the African Well Fund visit www.africanwellfund.org.