By Jeff Banning
My Dear Friends
Thanks to the generosity of many of you, the World AIDS Museum (www.worldaidsmuseum.org) succeeded in its fundraising efforts through participation in the Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival.
Overall the walk raised $1.5 million dollars. The Happy Hiney / World AIDS Museum team raised $71,555 and because we are one of 10 befitting organizations AIDS Healthcare Foundation (https://www.aidshealth.org), a world-wide AIDS Organization headquartered in Los Angeles, is matching our donations for a total of $143,110!
This money goes directly to the World AIDS Museum and our HIV / AIDS programs, services, and our beautiful boutique museum located in Wilton Manors, Florida. In the museum is a history of the HIV story dating back to 1908 chronicling all the major events in this pandemic’s history!
We also had a record number of walkers sign-up this year. A total of 178 walkers!
I continue to hope for the day when a cure for AIDS is achieved. Medical achievements, like the most recent person cured of HIV through a Bone Marrow transplant, (the London Patient), continue to surface. Although this is not a cure that can be mass produced due to cost and risk, this
brings hope to millions of people worldwide that a cure will someday be created. Until there is a cure, we say, “IT IS NOT OVER” and we continue our work to remember those lost and to educate parents and children, so they do not become HIV Positive themselves.
The World AIDS Museum and Educational Center is an organization that is just 5 years old, but our plans are to be truly worldwide someday – most likely through our website reaching into all parts of the world. Our 5-year anniversary is May 15, 2014 so I hope many of you can join us for our celebration!
Thanks to everyone who continue to be my friends even though not near we are close in heart. Thanks for all of you who donated to me. I raised the most ever this year reaching $9,320 and I was given a special award for my efforts! Thanks to all you Anonymous donors (you know who you are, I unfortunately don’t) A special Thank-you to all of you outside of South Florida who donated. These donations from all parts of the United States are crucial to us truly becoming world renown.
Thanks again!
Jeff Banning, Co-Captain & Friend
