France fights AIDS with Sidaction 2008, public fund-raising effort for HIV/AIDS research
March 31, 2008
France HIV/AIDS research campaign Sidaction 2008 raised over 400,000 euros the first day of weekend public fundraiser.
AIDS awareness and funding in France got a big boost on the first day of Sidaction 2008, a three-day campaign to raise funds in France for HIV/AIDS prevention and research. (The name of the French effort comes from SIDA, the French equivalent of AIDS.)
Sidaction 2008, which runs through Sunday in France, is aimed to raise awareness in France as well as money. 11 French television stations and five radio stations are uniting behind a single message and effort. there will be special programming, with French and international stars performing together in a concerts and telethons.
Besides publicity on TV and radio, there will be public sporting and cultural events all over France where people will learn about AIDS research and prevention and have the opportunity to contribute.
Technology in France is being mobilized as well. Donors to Sidaction can contribute via internet, of course, at http://www.sidaction.org , but also at a three-digit toll-free telephone number (110) and by text message to 33000 until April 11, 2008.
In just the first day, by 9PM, 412,000 euros had already been pledged.
Sidaction has run its campaign in France since 1994. Since then more that 178 million euros has been raised, funding research and thousands of treatment centers in France, as well as hundred in developing countries.
AIDES, a global charitable organization, estimates that there are 33 million people worldwide with the disease, and that a new case is diagnosed ever ten seconds. In France alone, more than 130,000 people were estimated to be living with AIDS in 2005, and that number is feared to have grown.
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