Nicolas Sarkozy joins Carla at sailing event named after her brother

April 13, 2009Apr 13, 2009, 11:00 PM GMT+1

French President Nicolas Sarkozy joined Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on the beach this Easter to help launch a charity sailing competition for a cause close to his wife's heart.

The husband-and-wife team – who at one point shared a tender moment in the sunshine when the former model gently caressed the French president's face – were the special guests at the inauguration of the Virginio Bruni-Tedeschi sailing trophy at Le Lavandou, in the Var reagion of Provence, southeast France. The event raised money for Carla's AIDS charity.

Forty-one-year-old Carla set up the foundation in memory of her brother Virginio, whom she lost to the virus in 2006. The sailing cup is named after him.

France's First Lady - ready for summer in a funky diagonal striped halter neck top - was joined at the event by her mother, Italian concert pianist Marisa Borini.

The couple shared a private moment as they helped launch a sailing event in aid of Carla's AIDS charity. The Virginio Bruni-Tedeschi trophy was named after the model-turned-singer's brother, who died of the disease three years ago

Also helping keep Virginio's memory alive at the event was Carla's mother, Italian concert pianist Marisa Borini (left)

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