AIDSLAW of Louisiana kicks off Statewide Fundraising Campaign for
World’s AIDS Day
United in Red™

AIDSLAW of Louisiana kicks off statewide fundraising campaign during World AIDS Day, which falls on the 1st of December.

World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS.1 Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

In order to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, we need to understand how significant the disease really is. Medicine has come a long way in treating people infected with HIV, but AIDS is still a major health issue in the United States. The statistics are truly alarming. Every 91/2 minutes, someone in the United States is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. An estimated 56,300 people became infected with HIV in 2006, and over 1 million people in the United States are currently living with HIV. And of those 1 million infected, 1 in 5 don’t realize they have it. Unfortunately, new treatments cannot prevent those infected with HIV from developing AIDS. There are over 1 million people in the United States that have been diagnosed with AIDS, and 14,000 will die from AIDS this year.

Nationally, Louisiana ranked 4th highest in AIDS case rates and 11th in the number of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2008, according to the CDC 2008 HIV Surveillance Report (Vol. 20). As of September 31, 2010, a cumulative total of 30,555 HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in Louisiana, including 316 pediatric cases. A total of 17,944 persons are living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana; of these individuals, 9,800 persons (55%) have an AIDS diagnosis.Learn more about HIV in Louisiana.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Wear Red, Inspire others to wear Red, paint something Red, light something in Red, think Red. Take a picture or video and send it to info@hessmarketing.com to be displayed on our website.

Donate online, spread the word and inspire others to donate online.

Ask your school or employer if World AIDS Day can be recognized by allowing employees or students to dress casually and in Red if they donate. Bring your donation to the nearest Capital One Bank. Email a copy of your deposit slip and picture of your group to compete for our donor hall of fame.

WHY WILL YOU WEAR RED?

Wear Red in memory of those who have lost their lives to AIDS.
Wear Red to raise awareness that HIV/AIDS is a growing epidemic in Louisiana.
Wear Red to stand united in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

This campaign would not be possible without the generosity of Halloween's in New Orleans Inc., and Project Lazarus as it is partially funded with the proceeds from the Continuing Legal Education Seminar/Community Forum held during Halloween 27.


©2010 World AIDS Day Louisiana - United in Red™ Inc.