David Beckham digitally aged to look 70 in new advert
Advert created as part of Malaria prevention campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.David Beckham stars in a new campaign video for the charity Malaria Must Die as his 70-year-old self.
The former professional footballer has been digitally aged in the short film, during which he delivers a speech in an imagined future where malaria has been wiped out.
His face has been altered so that he has wrinkles across his forehead and his facial hair appears entirely grey.
“We have defeated humankind’s oldest and deadliest enemy,” the 45-year-old says at the start of the clip.
“A disease that has killed billions, more than any other in history. Today we have ended malaria. Thanks to scientists, leaders, and people everywhere, the world is now safer for us all,” he continues.
“Future generations will be protected and the world will be stronger to defeat all diseases.”
The elderly Beckham then transforms into his current self, and he explains how, as a father of four, it “breaks [his] heart” that a child dies every two minutes from malaria.
“A future free from this disease is possible in our lifetimes,” he says.
“We must unite and tell our leaders that we won’t stop until the job is done.”
Beckham has worked with Malaria No More since 2009, supporting several campaigns to shine a light on the difficulties of eradicating the disease.
“Their campaigns always use great creativity and innovation to attract attention to the issue and I'm delighted also to have met some of the inspiring people who are working so hard to end this disease,” he commented.
Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, the NHS states.
"If it isn't diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be fatal. A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected.”
Malaria is found in more than 100 countries, including large areas of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, and some Pacific islands.
You can read more about the symptoms of malaria here.
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