The surgeon is working together with the British rock star, but he’s also had the privilege of working closely with Broadway superstar Kerry Ellis and The Soweto Gospel Choir.
The Young Hearts Africa Initiative, spearheaded by Lichtenberg, a passionate tenor singer, was formed to create more opportunities for children in need of lifesaving surgery during his days as a trainee heart surgeon at Red Cross Children’s Hospital and the world-famous Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.He came up with the idea to use his voice and his love of music as instruments of change, to carry the message to the world, for the sake of those most in need.
“I want to help those who don’t have the same privileges. I simply took a chance to write to Brian and explain to him what the project was about and he liked the idea. It's all still a bit of a dream. I don’t want to live forever, but I certainly hope this dream does.” “The experience has been absolutely surreal. Especially because they are such unbelievably kind, friendly, humble, unassuming, nice people.”“I wasn’t really nervous, just enormously privileged. All I could do was my best. I’ve been singing since I can remember, mostly in the shower. I’ve wanted to become an opera singer when I was at school, so to team up with musicians of such calibre was a huge honour and privilege.
Lichtenberg says that heart disease in children places a devastating burden on families and communities and the prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa is almost 10 times higher than in developed countries. “My hope is that we can raise R250 million over the next five years. From there on we can build it up.The need is almost unfathomable. If you look at the figures and statistics, you will see that there are tens of thousands of children requiring this type of surgery.
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