Bono’s Blog

As you probably know, years back, in the late 90s, I became highly involved in raising both money and awareness for what was then a little known autoimmune virus. AIDS was an epidemic which plagued millions of people in Africa, and in my effort to bring an end to this fatal ailment, I am ready to accept that I failed. Mission not accomplished. Eight years after I began my endeavor to end AIDS, the deadly disease still exists. Perhaps I should have devoted more time, raised more money, not done the Western Europe ’02 tour. I really thought I could rid the world of this thing in like 6 years tops.

So where does this leave me? As of today, June 26, 2007, I hereby announce I will refocus my AIDS energy to another disease, one which affects even more millions of individuals each year: mononucleosis. The 2007 “Bono for Mono” campaign will raise awareness about this frightening illness. Thousands of suburban teenagers agonize over the fatigue-inducing virus each year and something needs to be done. Headaches, tiredness, dry coughing, and loss of appetite are some, actually, almost all (I left out skin rash, but that happens in very few cases) of the symptoms which accompany mono.

I experienced the devastation of mononucleosis first hand when former United States’ Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Jack Kemp (really the only politician who would agree to go with me) joined me for a visit to the Roslyn, NY home of mono patient Brett Stein. Brett was groggier than any teenager I’ve ever met. When he reached for three more Advil to alleviate his headache, he said something Jack and I will remember for a lifetime, “This fucking sucks. Jill Rothberg’s parents are going away this weekend, and there’s no way my mom is letting me out of the house to go there.” Fourteen days later Brett was back in school, testing negative for the virus. I can’t help but think we made a difference.

Photo by euthman