The sheer magnanimity of decorated Pauley Ballroom astounded me and the bright lights blinded me. This was Dance Marathon 2009 and I, the awed volunteer was there. In that moment, I realized that I wanted to not only help set-up next year’s event but also promote our valiant fight against Pediatric Aids. This is why I applied for the Outreach Committee. Dance Marathon’s cause is what I feel really defines the event and its hopeful message. It is a chance for the different communities of Berkeley to join together in a united, just cause and inspire hope/determination in those who have suffered from Pediatric Aids. As cliché as this may sound, Dance Marathon is an opportunity for me to feel as if I am significantly impacting other peoples’ lives in the world. Spreading the idea of a “generation free of AIDS” invokes a wonderful feeling within my heart especially when I see adults and children alike first stare and then smile with wonder.
I am not naïve to think that one person can completely eradicate a deadly disease like Pediatric AIDS but here in an interesting fact for you. As stated on the Elizabeth Glaser website, a donation of just $15 could reach one pregnant woman with the services she needs to prevent transmission of HIV to her baby. This means that $15 donated from me or you can help prevent a child from receiving HIV from his/her mother. This is a step in the right direction towards a “generation free of AIDS.” I feel as if it is my responsibility along with others in the committee to make sure that people are aware of important facts about the global AIDS epidemic such as this one. Our cause has made me want to become more knowledgeable about the global AIDS epidemic and what measures can be taken to prevent it from becoming an even more pressing issue. I want to inform people about the goals of both Dance Marathon and the Elizabeth Glaser Foundation and allow them to choose whether or not to support a possibly life-changing, monumental organizational effort.
With Much DM Love,
Amir Afshar
(Member of the DM Outreach Committee 2010-2011)
Let’s face it, there are more cheerful topics to talk about out with your friends then those related to HIV/AIDS. The ongoing existence of the virus and disease is something that breeds immense frustration and discouragement, and causes many to throw their hands up in the air and simply want to change the subject. Because of this, it was extremely elevating to come across a video online that discussed the transmission of HIV in such a straightforward, engaging, and overall logical way.
Elizabeth Pisani’s talk, entitled “Sex, Drugs and HIV—Let’s Get Rational,” discusses several of the ways that HIV is still transmitted today, despite the fact that people are fully aware of the dangers of their actions. After listing a few other contributing factors she states that “HIV is [mainly] about sex and drugs, and if there are two things that make human beings a little bit irrational they are erections and addiction.” She goes on to elaborate on how people can sometimes act irrationally, but for perfectly rational reasons, breaking down the reasoning behind things such as sharing dirty needles when clean ones are available.
Through both anecdotes and statistics, she describes how an addict hates the idea of sharing a needle and realizes its risks, but has an even greater fear of getting pulled over by the police with a clean needle in his pocket. She explains the outlook that a dirty needle may or may not transmit a disease that may or may not kill someone in ten years, but a clean needle if caught will most likely send a person to jail for up to a year immediately, where they will almost certainly encounter dirty needles anyway and wind up in the same situation. With the risk of imprisonment out there, addicts feel like they have no choice but to keep their freedom safe over their health.
Pisani does an extremely effective job of inserting wit and amusement into a potentially dry topic, covering invaluable information while still keeping her audience engaged. She highlights information in a way that anyone, whether they are an HIV expert or have never heard much about the virus, can expa
nd their overall grasp on the subject.
but all ages gathered together for this event. Even people more than three times my age! 
Even more memorable than all the scrumptious food, the many activity booths, and meeting famous celebs, were the incredible speakers. An 11 year old boy along with his younger brother spoke about what it's like to live with HIV. I only heard a portion of their dialogue (I was working at the foundation booth) but what I did hear was extremely moving. These two boys only recently found out they live with HIV in their bodies. These two boys fear of being treated differently by their peers. At such a young age they are forced to deal with disease. Despite all of this, the boys spoke about their love for one another. The younger brother shared how having an older brother helps him through all of the tough times. He said that he is happy he has a brother going through the same thing as him. He looks up to him and loves him very much. Hearing these brothers speak brought Pediatric HIV and AIDS into reality for me. Its children like them who reinforce the importance of the Elizabeth Glaser foundation. Without this foundation, these two brothers would not have access to the medication they need. The EGPAF gives them hope. They make a generation free of HIV possible.
