Today isn't just the first day in December and the start of another holiday season - it's also World AIDS Day. And in a time when over 33 million people are affected worldwide, we just can't stand by idly. We've collaborated with Direct Relief International with the goal of raising $30,000 to provide medical treatment to AIDS patients in Kenya.
We have a special message to current and future SocialVibe members from Kristi of Direct Relief, who has and will continue to personally visit Kenya to be sure all your donations are going towards the cause.
The reality of HIV in our world is huge. There are over 33 million people infected right now, and two-thirds of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa, home to only 10% of the world’s population. Kenya alone has about 2 million people infected and sadly over 80 percent of them don’t even know they are infected. Without access to HIV test kits and medicine to decrease the virus in the body, millions will die prematurely and even more children will become orphaned.
In response to this growing need in Kenya, Direct Relief International provides HIV test kits and drug therapy to locally based clinics. I recently visited our partners in Kisumu, Kenya to see the impact of the disease myself. I found about 55 to 60 percent of those tested were found positive. Unfortunately, many of the facilities lack the resources to provide the life-prolonging medications that can help these people. This is why Direct Relief is doing all it can to help.
While in Kenya, I spent a day visiting several people infected with HIV, who are patients of our partner clinics. I heard so many stories of hope and thankfulness. One man told me, "I was close to death, but these medicines have given me life again. Now I must find others and tell them there is hope." A woman with tears in her eyes told me how her son dropped out of school to care for her while she was ill. Now, after receiving treatment provided to her local clinic by Direct Relief, she feels healthy and strong and is able to care for her family again.
Life-threatening if not treated, HIV doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Knowing your status early and beginning treatment before the virus increases beyond what your immune system can handle means you can live a somewhat normal life.
My wish is that SocialVibe can help Direct Relief extend life for some, save a parent for others, and give hope to many. Thanks for all your support!
We can't reach this goal without you, our members, and here's how you can help.
-
1. Dedicate your status to the cause on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network. Update with :
2. Change your default profile picture to the image below.
Click image for full size
3. Invite your friends to join SocialVibe in honor of Direct Relief. Visit their Cause page on SocialVibe and click "Spread the Word." The Top 3 members who recruit the most people to join in support of Direct Relief by the end of the year will win one of three autographed Linkin Park albums.
With your help, we CAN reach our goal by the end of the year! To find out more about what Direct Relief is doing to help in Kenya, visit their website.
-SocialVibe
