Aids death teen inspired me - Elton John

Sir Elton John says he has been sober for 20 years, since the death of an American teenager with Aids who he said inspired him to turn his life around.

Sir Elton was in Indianapolis last night to headline a benefit event celebrating the life and legacy of Ryan White, 18, who died on April 8 1990, about five years after contracting HIV, the virus that causes Aids, through a tainted blood transfusion to treat his haemophilia.

The singer befriended the boy during his public battle for acceptance after he was banned from a central Indiana school at 13, bringing national attention to HIV/Aids education and the plight of children with HIV in the 1980s.

Sir Elton was at Riley Children's Hospital when Mr White died and was a pallbearer and performed at the funeral.

"It was one of the greatest things in my life to meet Ryan's family, to be there the last week to try and help, and then for that wonderful message that he gave me to change my life around," Sir Elton said before last night's event. "It was weird to take stock and think of it - I'm 20 years sober this year, and it's 20 years since Ryan died, because I got sober shortly afterward."

Proceeds from the event, which was being hosted by Phil Donahue, will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation and the Indianapolis Children's Museum's Power of Children exhibit, which features Mr White.

Sir Elton established the foundation two years after Mr White's death. The organisation funds HIV prevention and education programmes, works to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/Aids, and provides direct care and support services for patients.

The 20-year anniversary of Mr White's death was an opportunity to restart a dialogue about Aids and push for educating children about the disease, Sir Elton said.

"Every 10 years, a new generation of kids come up, and we see the numbers go up, because we can't really get to them in school," he said.

"We never could. Education about sex and education about Aids was totally forbidden. That could have saved so many more lives, because children are smart. Children will listen. You don't have to threaten children, you just have to inform them."

"It took a child to die to make people sit up and notice," he added.

Mr White's mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, said Sir Elton's return to Indianapolis was a bitter-sweet reminder of her son's last days.

She said Sir Elton played "secretary" during Mr White's final days, filtering phone calls and telegrams and making sure those who sent flowers were acknowledged.

"One of the most beautiful scenes I think I can remember is walking into Ryan's room and seeing Elton standing on a chair decorating Ryan's room," Ms White-Ginder said.

"He said, 'When he wakes up, I want him to know how much he was loved'. That really touched me as a mom because I hadn't thought to do that."

She said it was special to have Sir Elton back to mark the 20th anniversary of her son's death.

"I've always felt like he was my guardian angel," she said.

Sir Elton gives similar credit to Ms White-Ginder, and to the family that helped him find purpose.

"Jeannie's incredible fortitude in going through this as a mother - I never saw her crack. The last week, there were some tense moments, and it was very emotional, but I never saw Ryan crack," Sir Elton said.

"It was just an amazing lesson in how to live life in the best possible way."