Go west

These days you buy a ribbon for many worthy causes. Orange = hunger, pink = breast cancer, yellow = suicide prevention and white = violence against women.

While I would like to write about each of these causes, I feel that the most pressing and the one affecting our whole community is the Red Ribbon in support of HIV/AIDS.

Each year on 1 December we show our support for people living with HIV/AIDS by buying and wearing a red ribbon. The money ACON raises through its red ribbon sales goes towards its support of people living with HIV/AIDS and to reduce the spread of HIV.

But there is much more to World AIDS day than just buying and wearing a red ribbon. It’s a time of remembrance; a time when we remember our friends, our family, our community and, most of all, our loved ones.

During AIDS Awareness Week starting on Monday 24 November there are many events where you can take time to remember including the Candlelight Vigil in Hyde Park on Monday 1 December which concludes the week.

If you are in the Blue Mountains, on Sunday 30 November we will be holding a memorial service in Medlow Bath Park. This is a memorial site dedicated to the people who have passed away with plaques naming people, both young and old, who are finally at rest.

ACON is launching its biggest World AIDS Day effort to date, selling Red Ribbon merchandise all through AIDS Awareness Week. If you can spare some time, please volunteer to help out. If selling to strangers is not your thing, then organise a Red Ribbon box to take to work and sell to your colleagues.

For information on volunteering during AIDS Awareness Week visit www.redribbonday.org.au or call 9206 2024.

Please everyone, dig deep for World AIDS Day. Volunteer if you can but most of all remember -” remember our friends, our community and the ones we miss.

info: If you want any information about groups, services, organisations or community events taking place in western Sydney, you can contact Matt Vaughan at ACON on 9206 2064 or [email protected].