Pass It On

A brief blog entry for World Aids Day. Having spent over 3 years working with persons living with HIV in New York, it's great seeing my bro Dave doing HIV awareness work in a totally different context with Samaritan's Purse. Check out what they do, and if you are based in the UK, it is SO SO easy to make a huge difference in helping to raise a) awareness and b) funds for those living with HIV in the 3rd world. Seriously, watch how easy:

Step 1: Get out your mobile phone/iphone/crackberry/etc

Step 2: Text the word 'EPIDEMIC' to 60999.

Step 3: Hit 'send'.

That's it! The whole pound goes to AIDS work done in collaboration between Samaritan's Purse and local groups. I bet you anything you'll never even notice it on your bill this month. Heck, why not hit send a few more times? What are you waiting for?

Today reminds me of how much I learned during my time in NYC working with people whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS. For one, the enormous slap in the face it was to realise that this is NOT something that is solely a third/developing world issue. And secondly, just how much misinformation there is about HIV and AIDS, even in our ostensibly well-educated, well-developed society. I know at times I felt that there were never-ending mountains to climb in responding appropriately to the issue on a personal, local and global scale. We have a long way to go with education and justice around this issue...

Pass it on!