Liam Payne, former member of the boy band One Direction, donated to numerous GoFundMe campaigns a month before passing away on October 16, 2024 after falling from a three-story balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
Although giving to those in need was nothing new for the late singer, his role as a father gave him a newer compassion for helping sick children.
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Being a father inspired him to give back
Embed from Getty ImagesPayne began to have a soft spot for the struggles of sick children when imagining his seven-year-old son with British singer Cheryl Cole, Bear, having to go through something so awful.
“As a father, it hits me differently. I would want everyone in the world helping. I have been spending the last few nights trying to finish off the donations so they can get the operations they need – they would be free in my country,” the 31-year-old said during a live video on Snapchat in September.
He wasn’t looking for admiration
The former One Direction member wasn’t looking for a way to impress people when he donated to the wellness of needy children.
“I can’t look at a sick child and not see Bear. I can’t and I won’t. I’m not asking for people to say well done or I’m amazing – I don’t give a f— about what people think of me,” he added during the Snapchat live.
The singer said his hope was for children to live longer
During his final days, he hoped his donations could give sick children longer life expectancies.
“What I care about is that, that child gets to live the life it’s supposed to,” he said during the Snapchat live.
He donated over $10,000 in one night
Payne wasted no time making his intentions clear when he donated 10,000 Euros (about 10,800 US dollars) to several different GoFundMe groups centered on sick children in a single night after being moved by all of their stories and needs.
Helping others was nothing new for Payne
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile his donations to the GoFundMe pages seem to have been his last, the singer had a track record of giving, including to a food bank charity that he supported since the 2020 Covid pandemic.
He used the money he earned throughout his career to provide hundreds of thousands of meals to families in need all over the UK.
He also helped raise funds for children in warzones
Embed from Getty ImagesPayne participated in Soccer Aid for Unicef, a yearly charity football (AKA soccer) match that raises money for children impacted by war.
He was a captain for the fundraiser in England in 2022 and returned in 2023 to continue helping children in need worldwide.
Payne even made a funny video to help people with insomnia during the holidays
Payne’s humorous “Bromance” video with radio host Roman Kemp is a hidden gem for many.
The two aimed to lightheartedly comfort those unable to sleep during the 2020 holiday season, especially amidst the seriousness of pandemic.
Their sleep story with affirmations offered listeners a chance to laugh with them as they awkwardly complimented each other in weird (yet endearing) ways.
He even saved a friend’s life once
If this doesn’t count as going above and beyond for someone in need, we don’t know what does. In 2013, Payne was dubbed a “hero” after saving his childhood friend Andy Samuels’ life by rescuing him from a house fire.
“We are so grateful to Liam because he saved his life,” Samuel’s stepfather said in 2023.
The late singer is remembered as a genuinely giving person
Embed from Getty ImagesAs family and fans continue to grieve the former One Direction singer, they honor him and his legacy worldwide. Known not just for his singing, the artist captured the hearts of others through his kind deeds and determination to see positive change in the world.
Fans have gathered in various cities around the world for memorials that pay homage to the life of Payne.
