Zimbabwe stars back Streak's AIDS fundraiser

Zimbabwe's cricketers have joined the fight against HIV AIDS with an auction of cricket memorabilia set for Grillos in Bulawayo's Bradfield suburb on Friday evening.

Spearheading the campaign is former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak who has been joined by Mluleki Nkala, Tawanda Mupariwa, Charles Coventry, Terrence Duffin, Keith Dabengwa, Gavin Ewing, and Christopher Mpofu.

An invitation was sent to Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu, who unfortunately could not make, it but the Harare-based pair Douglas Hondo and Blessing Mahwire will be attending the function.

Some of the items set to go under the hammer include Australian captain Ricky Ponting and England skipper Michael Vaughan's ODI shirts, a Zimbabwe ODI shirt signed by Streak, a Zimbabwe ODI shirt signed by Taibu, and Zimbabwe's ODI shirt signed by all the members of the 1999 World Cup staged in England.

The cricketers have joined forces with organisations that are involved in the prevention and caring for people infected by AIDS and these include Matabaleland AIDS Council and Medicines Sans Frontieres, a Spanish non-governmental organisation. Streak said they felt it would be good for them to get involved in the fight against AIDS which is affecting thousands in the Southern African nation.

"We got ourselves involved in the fight against HIV AIDS, it is a big problem in Zimbabwe, and the fact that 25% of people aged 15-45 are living with the virus shows how serious it is it. People look up to us as role models, people living with AIDS are discriminated in societies they live in and we want to change that."

The cricketers aim to raise ZW$200 million (US$3000) which will go towards World AIDS Day commemorations, which are held each year on December 1. Streak revealed that they have already received preliminary bids of ZW$80 million for two of the shirts. A bid of ZW$50 million (US$800) was placed for the Zimbabwe World Cup shirt and ZW$30 million (US$500) for Ponting's shirt.