PRESS RELEASE for immediate release

 

OUR KIDS GAIN SUPPORT OF MICHAEL JACKSON, URI GELLER & DAVID BLANE

Statement by Children with Aids Charity

Children with AIDS Charity has received the most amazing sum of £ 9000 from a fundraising event in June this year, during which Michael Jackson, David Blane and Uri Geller travelled to Exeter City Football Club to meet, hug and ultimately empower children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Large numbers of British children are not receiving satisfactory education on sex and the issue of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases because of flaws in the education curriculum and a lack of discussion on the topic by British parents. The publicity brought about by the event helped to stimulate debate and promote awareness about HIV and AIDS, challenging the stigma and prejudice that, unfortunately, still surrounds the virus today.

At a time when the issue of AIDS is not a requirement on the national curriculum (except in a biological sense), it is down to the judgement of the principal and teaching staff whether they discuss it with children, or direct them to ask their parents. Yet research highlights that many parents are not in a position to fill this knowledge gap - 4 in 10 people are unaware that HIV and AIDS are still on the increase in the UK, while almost 75% of people don’t know that AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – the inability of the human body to fight illnesses such as the common cold.

The charity believes that despite recent high profile publicity of increases in AIDS and HIV in the developing world, knowledge of the issue in Britain is still dangerously low. The monies raised by Michael Jackson, Uri Geller and David Blane will be allocated to our hardship fund for families and Children with AIDS Charity extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation for making it all possible.

About Children with Aids Charity:        www.cwac.org

Children With AIDS Charity aims to help the youngest of those infected or affected by HIV and AIDS, by working towards a future without prejudice for these children and their families. Conceived in the spring of 1992 within the Paediatric Department of St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington. The founders were a small group of hospital employees and parents who became increasingly aware of the acute shortage in the existing provision of services for children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. Charitable registration was given in October 1993

Further information:

Lesley Naylor

Children with AIDS Charity

Tel: 020 7247 9115

Email: lesley@cwac.org