AIDSfree: Ed Sheeran backs Independent Christmas campaign as he donates T-shirt to charity auction

All proceeds will go towards our appeal and help a project in Kenya that encourages young men to test themselves for HIV

Ed Sheeran wearing his T-shirt which is being sold for The Independent's Christmas appeal

Ed Sheeran has announced his support for our AIDSfree appeal as a limited edition T-shirt he designed goes on sale to raise funds.

All proceeds will go towards our appeal and help the Chukua Selfie programme, a project in Nairobi, Kenya, that encourages young men to test themselves for HIV.

Its broader aims are to protect young people from HIV, empower them to seek treatment if they are HIV positive and help stop the spread of the virus.

Sheeran, 27, said: “I’m completely behind the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s goal to end the Aids epidemic once and for all.

“To do this, I firmly believe we need to make young men part of our efforts, not only to bring them into consciousness about their own risk and vulnerability to HIV, but also to empower them to protect the women around them.”

Kenya has the fourth largest HIV/Aids epidemic in the world. Thousands of people die from Aids-related illnesses there every year, and many more are living with HIV but are unaware of their HIV-positive status.

Sheeran’s support comes after Take That backed the campaign, which is also endorsed by Elizabeth Hurley, David Walliams and Taron Egerton, who plays Sir Elton John in a film out next year.

All proceeds from T-shirt sales will also be matched by the UK government for projects in Nairobi and Maputo.

Ed Sheeran’s T-shirt is available to buy for around £20 (depending on exchange rates) plus shipping, at represent.com/edsheeran.