I’ve signed up to Rock the Red Pump and show my support of increasing awareness of how women and girls in the United States are affected by HIV/AIDS and to salute the courage and strength they face each day in dealing with this disease – and I think you should, too.
You can follow them on Twitter at @RedPumpProj and support them on Facebook on The Red Pump Project Facebook Page.
What is The Red Pump Project?
It is a project that was started by Luvvie Ajayi and Karyn Watkins in March 2009 to help raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls as part of a nationwide initiative.
They chose to use the Red Pump as a symbol of empowerment and as an embodiment of the strength and courage of women and girls who are affected by HIV/AIDS.
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 10th every year and as a part of that effort, Rock the Red Pump was launched as a way for bloggers to show their support for women and girls who are affected by HIV/AIDS and represents the strength and courage of these women and girls.
In the first year, 2009, their initial campaign goal was to get 100 blogs to sign up. They had 125. Last year the number of blogs doubled to 250. This year the goal is to double that to 500 in 50 days and they exceeded that by getting 650 in 25 days.
The Red Pump Project aims to:
- Commemorate major awareness dates with various events or campaigns online and on the ground
- Partner with organizations doing work in HIV/AIDS in their initiatives and events around the country
- Obtain a Red Pump ambassador in every state
- Get women around the country to “Rock the Red Pump™” both online and on the ground
- Be involved in getting 1,000 people tested nationally
- Raise funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations
Even with the advances that have been in made in HIV/AIDS research, prevention and treatment, women represent 27% of all new AIDS diagnoses along with those startling statistic that every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.
I was thrilled to have Luvvie Ajayi and Karyn Watkins on The A-List recently.
You can listen to the archive of this show using the player below or via iTunes.
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