During a visit to Grassroot Soccer’s Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha, South Africa on March 25, 2010, Founder and Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), Sir Elton John, emphasized the role that football can play in fighting the AIDS epidemic: “Soccer stars are the most powerful role models for young people today… so it’s fantastic that organizations like Grassroot Soccer are harnessing that power to educate young people about HIV’.
The visit was the culmination of an application process to EJAF for support of a groundbreaking new Grassroot Soccer Zambia project entitled, “Bridging the Gap: Effective HIV Prevention, Testing, and Treatment through the Power of Soccer.” Through a grant of more than £1 million over 3 years, EJAF will enable Grassroot Soccer to continue to reach youth with HIV prevention and life skills education while scaling up an innovative testing and treatment program. This program will establish an effective psychosocial support and follow up system so that all HIV positive youth in the program have immediate access to HIV care and treatment.
HIV prevalence among young people between 15 and 19 years of age is almost 5 per cent in Zambia and it is estimated that only 28 per cent of this age group know their HIV status. The Zambian government has cited the need for a widespread campaign on the benefits of knowing your status and called for help from non-governmental organizations to increase the demand for, and provision of, HIV testing. This is exactly what GRS hopes to achieve through its football-based programs.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the foremost independent AIDS charities in the world. It supports prevention and care services in 15 countries globally and has reached 150 million people in its 17-year history.
Rest assured that Caroline and all that she stood for and fought for will only add fuel for those of us who work diligently and passionately to continue to find better treatment options, and a cure. And hopefully it will do the same for others. Please don’t wait until the time is “more right” to do something. Don’t look away because you are too busy or can’t be bothered to help. Everyone can do something. Everyone can help in some small way.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fifteen of the nation’s most decorated paratriathletes have been selected to represent USA Triathlon as the 2010 USA Paratriathlon National Team, USA Paratriathlon National Team Director Peter Harsch announced this week.
Ryan Sutter’s 10 10 10 Challenge
I met Ryan Sutter while racing the NYC marathon last year with Ethan Zohn’s charity, Grassroot Soccer. In comparing calendars and 2010 race schedules with Ryan, I learned of his challenge for this year. Check out this awesome project to benefit First Descents.
First Descents is committed to curing young adults of the emotional effects of cancer and empowering them to regain control of their lives by experiencing whitewater kayaking and other challenging adventure sports in a safe, fun and supportive environment.
By the end of 2010 Ryan Sutter will have trained for 700 hours, traveled 8500 miles, and climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest four times. He has taken on this incredible challenge all while wearing the Team FD jersey in an effort to challenge 10,000 people to give $10 in honor of First Descents’ 10th year anniversary.
For more on Ryan’s mission, click HERE.
For more on First Descents, click HERE.
Great stuff. Kudos to you Ryan for all you continue to do.