Anyone in the world with access to a mobile phone or the internet can send a 90th birthday message to Nelson Mandela and be part of the biggest virtual birthday card in history.

The global AIDS awareness initiative, 46664, that bears the former President’s one-time prison number, is running a campaign which allows the public to send messages to Madiba, reports SouthAfrica.info.

The campaign, was launched on Wednesday, exactly 46 664 minutes before Mandela's birthday, and the message lines will be open right through to (and including) the big day on Friday.

Profits from the text charges will go to the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust and other charitable organisations supported by Mandela, including 46664, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

For the number to text in a specific country, and the cost, people can go to
Happy Birthday Mandela

If the country is not listed there – the public can leave a message at www.happybirthdaymandela.com

Once the message is sent, you will receive a message back notifying you that the message has been received, along with a unique code that can be used to view your message on www.happybirthdaymandela.com.

The website also records the number of messages sent globally, and has a random rotating display of messages received from around the world to date.

A random selection of messages will also be presented to Madiba on his birthday.

Everyone who sends a message will also be entitled to download a free music track being donated by various performing artists.

Among Mandela's British fans who have already sent messages are Prime Minister Gordon Brown, entrepreneur Richard Branson, actor Lenny Henry, television personality Sharon Osbourne, and musicians Sheryl Crow and Josh Groban, to name a few.

At the launch of the South African leg of the campaign, 46664 Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka took the opportunity to send a message to Madiba to illustrate the path of the message from her phone to www.happybirthdaymandela.com.

Her message read: "Madiba, no words can describe how the whole world respects and loves you for all that you have done.

“Now, on your 90th birthday, all I want to say is that you are the Man of the World, Warrior of our salvation. As people you have given us back our dignity. Yem Yem Madiba."

Nelson Mandela Foundation Chief Executive Officer Achmat Dangor said the primary purpose of the campaign was to allow as many people as possible to wish Madiba a happy birthday.

Asked how Mandela might feel about this outpouring of love, Mr Dangor said: "Knowing the modest man that he is, he would be pleased, but also a little embarrassed.

“Embarrassed in a good way! He always feels that he as an individual should not be celebrated. He's always said ... that his values should be celebrated."

Ms Chaka Chaka said she hoped that billions of people across the world would send in their birthday wishes.

"There are 6.6-billion people in the world; I would like to see the SMS campaign receive at least 4-billion messages!"