Doha, QATAR – Music legends from the world of rock and pop have lent their support to tsunami victims by signing a guitar to raise money for those in need across Asia. The guitar will be a showpiece at the ‘Reach Out to Asia’ inaugural charity dinner in the Qatari capital, Doha, on November 16 when Canadian rock star Bryan Adams will be a guest of honour.

Shortly after tragedy struck in Asia last December, the singer began the tsunami guitar project. Adams, a long-term champion, of education and relief efforts worldwide, auctioned off the instrument for victims of the tsunami, which killed more than 200,000 people and devastated the lives of millions more.

The guitar, a white Stratocaster donated by instrument specialist Fender, was auctioned off earlier this year raising tens of thousands of dollars for victims of last year’s tsunami in Southeast Asia. Proceeds from the sale of the guitar will be used to build a new school in Thailand, one of the countries affected by the tsunami last December.

Over the past few months, the guitar has been signed by legends from the world of music – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard, and, Bryan Adams himself.

Adams will proudly display the guitar at the November 16 charity dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha, the first of a series of ‘Reach Out To Asia’ initiatives aimed at raising funds for the underprivileged and disadvantaged across Asia.

He will return to Doha on February 1 to stage a concert for the ‘Reach Out To Asia’ campaign.

Qatar Foundation, Qatar Airways and the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) are spearheading the ‘Reach Out To Asia’ fund-raising drive over the next few weeks, months and years to come.

Apart from Bryan Adams, the ‘Reach Out To Asia’ dinner will be attended by a host of celebrities and dignitaries from the world of sport, showbusiness, politics and Royalty who will lend their support to the charity initiative.

CNN news anchor Richard Quest will be the Master of Ceremonies at the event, which will also include a live auction of items donated by sports celebrities.

The inaugural charity dinner will take place under the patronage of The Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani – who is also chairperson of the Asian Games – and Her Excellency Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Sohaim Al Thani.

Qatar Foundation and its partners are extending the hand of friendship and help to the many countries across Asia which have, and still are, experiencing serious social difficulties in terms of poverty, inadequate healthcare, homelessness, disease and natural disasters, such as last year’s devastating tsunami.

‘Reach Out To Asia’ has been spearheaded by Her Highness Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, daughter of the Emir of Qatar.

Sheikha Mayassa said: “Bryan Adams has been a long-term supporter of those in need and his personal involvement in the relief efforts of the victims of the tsunami was very touching indeed.

“We are extremely grateful to have Bryan Adams as our guest on November 16 and have this special guitar with us on the night, as well as a special performance by him during the evening.”

Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, and official partner of the Asian Games Doha 2006, operates more than one-third of its flights to Asia. Through ‘Reach Out To Asia’ Qatar Airways is demonstrating its social commitment to give back to the many communities of the countries it serves.

Donations to ‘Reach Out To Asia’ the charity can be made by individuals, companies and organisations to the following account: -

Qatar National Bank
The Reach Out Fund
Account Number 0035-004919-001
Tel: (974) 440-7407
Fax: (974) 441-5020