NFL Football Star to Lead AIDS Walk
Posted by Tom Thayer in 
It’s very refreshing to see someone of this NFL caliber standing up for a cause without being afraid of what people ‘might think’. Clay Matthews, NFL star linebacker for the Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers is doing just that. This Saturday he’ll be leading the charge against HIV & AIDS as the honorary chairman of the 22nd annual AIDS Walk Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Summerfest Grounds.
“This is something I’m passionate about, helping others. Just like they’ve helped me along all my life,” Matthews said. “It’s really an honor for them to come to me … Hopefully we can do a good job and raise money and bring awareness especially to the younger generation of this epidemic in hopes that we’re getting closer to a cure.”
Matthews said helping the community is an important part of his life, and his rising stardom has enabled him to support more causes. “I’m putting my face to this and standing up for what I believe, and hopefully people will come with me and help out with this great cause,” Matthews said.
It’s so nice to see this kind of selfless story when so many super athletes makes millions & only do something that benefits them. We salute you Clay from all the AIDS Service Organizations who struggle with fundraisers, Government budget cutbacks or stereotyping.
Tom Thayer
More Youth Worldwide Having Unsafe Sex
An disturbing worldwide study has just proven which we already suspected. Reuters/London survey announced that young people across the world are having more unprotected sex and know less about effective contraception options.
The number of young people having unsafe sex with a new partner increased by 111% in France, 39 % in the USA and 19% in Britain in the last 3 years. This shouldn’t come as a surprise for those in the health field, but it shows the urgency that EDUCATION starting at a young age including schools is so vitally important. Youth are lacking good knowledge about healthy relationships, and are not empowered to ask for contraception or even learned any skills on how to properly use contraceptives. This is also leading to a higher risk for STI/STD infections.
So, what is the answer? It starts at home, then schools and builds from there. This subject cannot be ‘avoided’ because its to touchy. STI/STD and HIV infections are on the rise not only in our hometown but worldwide. Unless things change, your son or daughter could be faced with this issue at sometime & might make the wrong decision. Help them, empower them to be knowledgeable… GET THE FACTS. Don’t wait until its too late wishing you had ‘the talk’…..
Tom Thayer
source: http://news.yahoo.com/more-youngsters-having-unsafe-sex-global-study-231442651.html
Promising Advances in Medicine Uses HIV to Fight Cancer
What an amazing last couple of weeks with promising leads, breakthroughs and advances in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And now this story; New England Journal of Medicine and Science Translational Medicine, Dr. Carl June, who led research at the Abramson Cancer Center at University of Pennsylvania, has successfully driven advanced cancer from patients’ bodies using a disabled form of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, to carry cancer-fighting genes into the patients’ T-cells.
He’s tested it on three patients of who had chronic leukemia. Two of the patients have remained in full remission since the treatment. One patient had a partial remission. This is a great step forward in attacking two horrible diseases by re-programming one to fight another. Read the story which is interesting. Of course there are side effects as with any testing.
Tom Thayer
Source; http://wehonews.com/z/wehonews/archive/page.php?articleID=6481
ROCKY HORROR PIC SHOW TICKETS ON SALE
ITS COMING…get your tickets now for a wild evening!!!
DATE: Oct 29, 2011, Sat night… midnight showing 2 theaters
WHERE: The Alamo Theater & Drafthouse, Kernstown, VA
PRICE: $30pp ticket which includes your audience participation bag for fun!
WHERE DO I GET TICKETS?: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2182798810
or through our website: www.aidsresponseeffort.org
for more info: Contact ARE Office; 540-536-5291
Cat Version Of HIV/AIDS Common Among Outdoor Cats, Strays
Some cats get a version of HIV called: feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), this is the cat version of HIV. Just like with humans, there is no cure. It is more common than you think among cats.
It could happen to any cat that goes outdoors. FIV is spread mostly through fighting, so that covers a lot of outdoor, feral, barn cats. Test results could take up to 6 months to show up, but during that time the cat can still infect other cats. If your cat has been outdoors, just be safe & protect your other pets by having it tested.
There are no known cases of FIV being passed to humans so don’t panic. HIV or versions of the virus are in other species besides humans.
Tom Thayer
source; http://www.localnews8.com/news/29260142/detail.html
Scientists Find Way to ‘Disarm’ AIDS Virus After Gamers Breakthrough
Needless to say this has been an interesting week in the health field regarding HIV/AIDS. As mentioned in an earlier blog this week, “Gamers” just solved an HIV Puzzle in 3 weeks that baffled scientists for ‘over’ a decade. Amazingly, this week ‘scientists’ announced they have found a way to disarm the AIDS Virus.
I find that very curious that their discovery happened so quickly ‘after’ gamers embarrassed scientists last weekend. What the scientists discovered this week and announced is; (HIV) is unable to damage the immune system if cholesterol is removed from the virus’s membrane.
“It’s like an army that has lost its weapons but still has flags, so another army can recognize it and attack it.” said one scientist.
The question now is to investigate how to use this way of inactivating the virus and possibly develop it into a vaccine. A 2009 study in Thailand involving 16,000 ‘volunteers’ showed for the first time that a vaccine could prevent HIV infection in a small number of people, but since the efficiency was only around 30% researchers were forced back to the drawing board.
HIV is spread in many ways, during sex, on needles shared by drug users, in breast milk and in blood, so there is no single easy way to prevent infection. The virus also mutates quickly and can hide from the immune system, and attacks the very cells sent to battle it. The race for a cure or medical breakthroughs is heating up. I still vote for “gamers” to lead the way or at least keep the pharmacutical companies, governments and scientists honest with information that seems to magically appear every time a new breakthrough occurs. I’m happy to finally see cracks in the “War on HIV/AIDS”.
I’m Tom Thayer & I’m just saying. 
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/20/scientists-find-way-to-disarm-aids-virus/#ixzz1Ynjo5r8k
This Thursday-Join ARE & Shenandoah University “HIV. A Major Problem For A Minority Of People”
You’re cordially invited to “HIV. A Major Problem for a Minority of People” in cooporation with Shenandoah University Black Student Union & ARE. This is a free event & open to the general public.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
6:15 pm
Shenandoah University Brandt Student Center Room 120
1460 Shenandoah University Dr.
Winchester, VA 22601
Overview: The HIV epidemic and its effect on the Urban and African American Communities.
Film Shown:
“Many Women, One Voice”
African American Women & HIV
Presented by
Alexandra Jordan
Executive Community Liaison/GileadSciences
Following the film will be an exchange of ideas as to how we can engage our community in the mission to raise HIV Awareness.
|
Please RSVP to Janet Tinkham (AIDS Response Effort) 540-536-5293 or jtinkham@valleyhealthlink.com or Shenandoah University Black Student Union President- Lamarcus Ware
|
ADAP Update-AIDS Drug Wait List Hits Over 9,000+
This is a continuing story of the ADAP CRISIS in America.
As of Sept. 8, the wait list to receive lifesaving AIDS medication through the nation’s AIDS Drug Assistance Programs had hit 9,066 people across 11 states.
This is an increase of over 5,000% since August 2009. OVER 5,000% people. AIDS Drug Assistance Programs are the state and federally funded programs that provide medication to low and middle-income people living with HIV. HIV/AIDS drugs can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, so ADAP is a critical lifeline. This is unacceptable from a Country that is a World Leader like the US.
In the last two years, increasing numbers of people have tried to enroll in these programs, due in large part to increasing unemployment. However, states have less moneyto give to their ADAPs. Virginia has 957 HIV/AIDS clients on this wait list that started in November 2010. Unless the Government makes changes, AIDS related deaths with increase without medication. Let your voice be heard & contact your local Congressional Representative. We’re talking about peoples lives here not just numbers on a accountants spread sheet.
Tom Thayer
source;http://www.housingworks.org/advocate/detail/adap-watch-aids-drug-wait-list-hits-9066
Can President Obama End AIDS?
In a recent story for The New England Journal of Medicine, antiretroviral treatment can prevent the spread of HIV, in addition to saving those infected from sickness and death.
With this, President Obama could lead the world in a massive effort to expand access to treatment and rid humanity of AIDS — the most devastating disease of our time. But at the same time, our economy is staggering with cutbacks. The Kaiser Family Foundation just reported that funding for HIV/AIDS leveled in 2009 and declined 10% in 2010. This is the FIRST TIME EVER! USA gives more than 1/2 of the worlds contributions to fight HIV/AIDS gave $700 million less in 2010 than in 2009. In the US itself, the amount in 2011 is $28 million less than in 2010.
This is a great shame, as millions of people receiving treatment worldwide depend on these funds to stay alive. Since the pandemic became public 30 years ago, nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS. At least 30 million others are living with HIV, and another 30 million are likely to become infected in the next decade if nothing more is done worldwide. Will Obama and the administration stand up to fight the epidemic?
Tom Thayer
author: Desmond Tutu
AIDS & Comic Books
Much to my surprise, I had forgotten about how during the height of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the 1990′s, some comic book hero’s had PSA (Public Service Announcements) regarding HIV in their comic book story lines.
Of the hero’s fighting AIDS mis-information was The Green Lantern, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Fire, Flash and even Batman sidekick Robin. They all worked to correct wrong information in the public.
That was then, this is now. We don’t see PSA’s like that anymore, yes we do have groups that work towards awareness & education but not to the point we had. There lies the problem, a whole new generation is growing up thinking HIV/AIDS is curable, not a problem, or no big deal.
Hopefully DC Comics can pick up the torch once again to bring this topic back to the youth of today since the largest group infected with HIV is 15-24 year olds. It might be your child or someone you know.
Tom Thayer
picture credit: DC Comics
story info;http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/141138/when-the-green-lantern-fought-hivaids-homophobia/#3
Connect with us on Facebook
Recent News Articles
- Bullying -A Fathers Painful Choice
- New HIV Outbreak in Alaska Raises Concerns
- Past-Present-Future
- This Day in History: Major Finding- Drug Curbs HIV Infection in Newborns-February 21, 1994
- Brazil’s Carnival Underway With HIV/AIDS Preventions
News Categories
- Community
- Entertainment
- Events
- Featured
- Health
- Medications
- My True Life
- News
- Newsletter
- Political
- State
- World