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Elton John - Source: Reuters -
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British singer Elton John, visiting Ukraine with his AIDS
charity foundation, said he wanted to adopt a 14-month-old boy from
an orphanage in the east of the country.
Ukraine has the fastest rising HIV rates in Europe.
Two years ago the singer gave a free concert on the main square
in Kiev attended by tens of thousands people to raise awareness of
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS.
Elton John's AIDS Foundation collaborates with the Ukrainian
Anti-AIDS Foundation of Olena Franchuk, daughter of former
President Leonid Kuchma.
He performed 'Circle of Life' for children at the orphanage - some
there because their parents had died of AIDS.
Later he and partner David Furnish, who had a 14-month boy called Lev on his knee, were asked whether they thought of adopting.
"David and I have always talked about adoption," Elton John replied.
"David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said 'no'
because I am 62 and I think because of the travelling I do and the
life I have, maybe it wouldn't be fair for the child."
"But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know
how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen
David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home. I've
changed my mind today," he said.
John said the death of his long-term keyboardist, Guy Babylon, had
also helped change his mind.
"Last week I lost one of my best friends ... It broke my heart
because he was such a genius and so young and has two wonderful
children. What better opportunity to replace someone I lost than to
replace him with someone I can give a future to."
