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Each year since 2002, the Pediatrics
AIDS Coalition at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has
organized a 26-hour Dance Marathon (DM) to raise funds, educate community
members about pediatric HIV and AIDS, and acknowledge the battle of children
suffering from AIDS. Zoe Filippenko, a UCLA sophomore from Montclair, Calif.,
will participate in the event on February 16 and 17. Along with thousands of
other dancers, Filippenko will help fight HIV/AIDS by pledging to stand on her
feet for 26 hours straight.
Since it began 11 years ago, DM has
empowered the UCLA campus and community in the fight against pediatric AIDS and
has raised a total of $3 million. DM will provide live music and appearances by
activists and celebrities. Last year, DM garnered more than 3,000 supporters
and $450,000 in donations. Dancers raise at least $250 each by calling on
friends and family. Filippenko, a repeat participant from last year, began her
fundraising efforts weeks ago, asking for donations as Christmas gifts from
family members and organizing a bake sale. One of Filippenko’s friends even
pledged to run 10 miles to every donor's residence to collect her or his
donation.
DM proceeds go directly to the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the largest pediatric AIDS
foundation; the UCLA AIDS Institute; and Project Kindle, a free summer camp
program for HIV-affected children. Children at risk for mother-to-child
transmission are exceedingly vulnerable in utero, during childbirth, and when
breast-feeding, according to the Pediatrics AIDS Coalition at UCLA. If an
HIV-positive mother does not get treatment, her risk of infecting her child is
greater than 30 percent. With antiretroviral medications and proper care during
childbirth, doctors are able to reduce the chance of transmission from 30
percent to less than 1 percent. Progress has been made; however, more than
1,000 people continue to be infected with HIV daily because of a lack of
resources.
"I really enjoy being part of
the event, but it's especially important to remember the reason I'm doing it is
because of the cause," Filippenko said. "Today, pediatric AIDS is
close to 100 percent preventable; the beneficiaries of DM are children who are
actually affected by HIV.” For more information about UCLA's Pediatrics AIDS
Coalition and DM, visit: http://www.dancemarathon.ucla.edu.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
