Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Walk On- The ONE Campaign and U2

How do I even begin to put into words the amazing weekend Nicholas and I had? It started a couple weeks ago, when a former colleague sent an email out asking if anyone wanted to volunteer in Zurich for the two U2 concerts coming up. I immediately emailed him and told him that I now live in Switzerland and Nicholas and I would love to come and help out.

Working the streets signing people up
We arrived Saturday morning, Sept.11, in the Z and got to the Letzigrund Stadium and met the other 20 or so volunteers for The ONE Campaign, which is the campaign to end poverty supported by Bono. Definitely read about it and join.

We then gathered around and were handed t-shirts, bags, pamphlets and iPads to sign up new members to the campaign. My friend then told us the schedule for the day:
  • 1:00pm-4:30pm Stand along the perimeter of the stadium to get all the super fans signed up who have slept outside waiting for the gates to open.
  • 4:30-5pm Take a break for food, etc.
  • 5:00pm-7:30pm Continue signing people up, but this time inside the stadium.
  • DRUMROLL
  • 7:30pm Meet back at our tent to drop everything off and meet the tour staff who will show us our front row spot for the concert and who will lead us onstage during the show...

Our friends from Lausanne at the concert with us, first night! 

WHAT?! Are you kidding me? We didn't even think we would see the show, let alone have the once in a lifetime opportunity to go onstage at a U2 concert! But that is exactly what we did :)

We walked onstage with an electric torch to " Walk On" dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition politician and general secretary of the National League for Democracy in Burma. She is currently under house arrest and has been for the past 20 years.


We were joined with other volunteers of The ONE Campaign and Amnesty International. It was a really emotional and exciting moment, walking in front of 70,000 people in the stadium. It is a night I will never forget. We volunteered for both shows, so we had the opportunity to do this twice. I decided one time was good enough for me, but Nicholas was eager to hit the stage again, even in the downpour that ensued during the entire show the second night.

Nicholas in the rain, preparing to walk on
Nicholas walking onstage with torch

Nicholas on stage

Nicholas standing in front of 70k people

Needless to say, we were exhausted after each night.
After night one.
Finally back in Lausanne
The rest of the photos! 
9-11-10

9-12-10 in the rain! 








Continuing to have the time of my life!




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