World AIDS Day is this Thursday, December 1, 2011. Did you know that more than one million Americans are living with HIV? In Virginia, 23,000 people are living with HIV. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnosis in June of 1981. RVA Remembers 2011 will showcase a huge event this Thursday hosted by the Fan Free Clinic. The event will start at 10:30 a.m.
Some 400 participants will hoist bright red umbrellas to create an enormous human memorial ribbon on Brown’s Island to symbolize a recommitment to HIV/AIDS education and prevention. The human memorial ribbon will be approximately 150 feet long and 80 feet wide. Participants will stand in the ribbon formation for 9 minute and 30 seconds -the length of time it takes for yet one more American to become infected with HIV, the precursor to AIDS.
The RVA REMEMBERS 2011 event will be the first time Richmond creates a WORLD AIDS DAY observance of this magnitude, says Julie Sulik, Communications Coordinator with the Fan Free Clinic.
Fan Free Clinic, Virginia’s first free medical clinic, is leading this effort to draw attention to the AIDS epidemic that continues in our communities across Richmond and Virginia. FFC has been at the forefront in the Richmond community with HIV/AIDS education, testing and case management.
FACT: There are 23,000 Virginians living with HIV/AIDS, and Virginia ranks (as of 2009) 13th among all 50 states in number of cumulative AIDS diagnoses since the beginning of the epidemic.
We are still on the battlefield in the fight against HIV/AIDS, please support RVA Remembers 2011 at www.rvaremembers.com.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is getting younger. Young adults ages 18-25 are being diagnosed at alarming rates in Richmond. Listen in on my interview with Rodney Lofton, Community Case Mananger, with the Fan Free Clinic.
The Fan Free Clinic and testing sites, please visit www.fanfreeclinic.org.
Radio One Richmond supports RVA Remembers 2011 and you? I will broadcast live from the event starting at 10:30 a.m. this Thursday on Brown’s Island. Miss Community Clooovia
