Dear Friends & Supporters:

The end of a year is a time for reflection. It is also a time for gift giving. We are writing to ask for both.

We ask you to remember that AIDS is still a crisis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, someone in this country is infected with HIV every 9 ½ minutes. Nevertheless, only 13% of Americans believe that HIV/AIDS is still a problem. At least 20% of people infected with HIV do not know it. We need to remind the community to get tested.

We ask you to remember that stigma prevails.
Stigma is a major barrier to HIV prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment. A national survey last year by the Foundation for AIDS Research found that 1 in 5 respondents would be uncomfortable even having a close friend who was HIV positive, and 59% would be uncomfortable with an HIV positive woman as a child care provider. Since 1990, there has been no change in the percentage of Americans who mistakenly believe that HIV can be transmitted by kissing (37%), sharing a drinking glass (22%), or touching a toilet seat (16%). We need to remind our neighbors of the real risk factors involved in contracting HIV.

We ask you to remember the spirit of community & compassion that once defined this disease.
While there has been progress in the area of treatment and the “face of AIDS” has changed, we need to remind everyone that this public health crisis continues, that the medications are toxic, that people still die, that there still is no cure. We need to remind the community that our work is still important and that everyone’s support is still urgently needed.

We ask you to join us in forging a new commitment to fighting the spread of HIV.
For 26 years of serving those infected and affected by this disease, the Board and staff of the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod have been committed to making HIV a public health priority. We ask you to join us in this effort. Remind your friends that the fight against AIDS is still a battle being waged and their involvement is still needed. And if you can contribute, if they can contribute during these worrisome economic times, we promise to be careful stewards of your gifts.

Sincerely,

Laura Thornton
Executive Director

 

 

 

 

Alice Foley

Founder

Provincetown AIDS Support Group

In Memoriam

May 5, 1932 - April 19, 2009