Paul Rodgers is known around the world as the former frontman for Free, Bad Company, and, in recent years, Queen.

Behind the scenes, he and his wife Cynthia Kereluk, who both live in White Rock, also do a great deal of charity work for the African Children's Choir.

Last night (September 29), Rodgers's two passions came together when he appeared on stage with the choir at its 25th anniversary gala fundraising celebration in Vancouver. Singers Michael McDonald and Beth Nielsen Chapman also appeared at the event, which honoured singer and humanitarian Bob Geldof for his contributions to the continent.

In an interview with the Georgia Straight earlier this week at the choir's rehearsal in Ladner, Rodgers said he first saw the group when he was in South Africa in 2005 to perform at a celebration for Nelson Mandela.

"They brought this choir of orphans down," Rodgers recalled. "I thought, 'How beautiful they are'....Their lives have not been easy. They were smiling and dignified, and they have beautiful talent, so I was very touched by them."

Kereluk, a former Miss Canada, told the Straight that she would spend time with the children during their rehearsals. She was called "Auntie Cynthia" and her husband was called "Uncle Paul".

"Then when it was time for them to say goodbye, they said, 'How can you leave us?'," Kereluk said. "I thought, 'I can't. Physically, I have to, but from this day forward, we will do whatever we can to help you.' And we made that commitment then."

Kereluk organized a silent auction in advance of the Vancouver fundraising gala, and she and her husband bought two tables at the dinner.

She said that another two tables were bought by friends whom she and her husband contacted.

Rodgers noted that many singers in the choir have grown up to become remarkably successful. "Some of the kids come from the worst slums," he said. "They become judges and lawyers and teachers and top doctors."

Funds from the Vancouver event will pay for a school in Uganda. The founder of the choir, Ray Barnett, told the Straight that there have been 39 different groups formed since he created the charity in 1984. As the kids grow older, new groups are formed.