THIS weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, the landmark 1985 concert that became a defining moment in the history of humanitarian fundraising.

Broadcast live on July 13 from Wembley Stadium, Live Aid followed the success of the Band Aid single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and brought together the biggest names in music to raise money for the famine crisis in Ethiopia. It was, by all accounts, a cultural turning point.

I wasn’t there, of course, but like many people of my generation, I’ve grown up hearing about its scale, its legacy and the way it captured a global mood.

Live Aid didn’t just raise millions – it changed the perception of charity. It laid the groundwork for televised appeals like Children in Need, Comic Relief, Sport Relief and Soccer Aid, and helped normalise the idea of mass public fundraising tied to entertainment.

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