Iron Maiden will continue to actively support former drummer Clive Burr in his fight against multiple sclerosis – even though they want to keep quiet about it. They’ve made a string of Clive Aid appearances in the past and helped found the Clive Burr Trust after MS began affecting his life and livelihood a decade ago, and put him in a wheelchair. Mainman Steve Harris says they’ll be there whenever they’re needed by the man who played on the band’s first three albums.
Harris tells SamaritanMag.com: “We’ve been involved with stuff over the years. A lot of people make a big publicity thing out of it, but we don’t, so I’d rather not say.
“Our old drummer Clive has MS so we started the Clive Burr Trust. Another friend of mine, Ralph, has got it too – he’s in a wheelchair. I went to school with him. He’s my oldest friend since I was five years old, so we helped him too.”
The band don’t share details of the charity, although it’s known one early Clive Aid show raised £235,000 and the trust has provided Burr with specialist treatment in Belgium and a customised bed and computer. Others have received cash for modified vehicles and to adapt their homes.
The website CliveAid.com is no longer running. But Harris says: “The fans know about it and they contribute to it. Every now and again we’ll do a show and just donate all the money.
“When we need to top it up, we do something.”
MS reduces the ability of the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other, resulting in a wide range of potentially severe symptoms. The cause is unknown and there is no cure.
Former Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno recently urged Burr to undergo risky stem cell treatment, saying: “He sounds drunk all the time. He sounds terrible. He can’t walk. He can’t use his hands now. It’s a bloody evil disease.”
Source: www.classicrockmagazine.com
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