Sheila's LiveJournal

Most of you know I've been volunteering in a hospice since I retired three years ago. I've seen far too many of our young people lose their lives to AIDS. It's not a pretty killer. It takes away your health, your beauty, your dignity. And often it seems to take away friends and family too, leaving only the kind hospice staff and the volunteers to hold your hand and keep you company.

When I was in Rwanda last year, I met women, many with small children, who had been deliberately infected by their HIV positive rapists during Rwanda's horrifying genocide. Now they're overwhelming the few clinics in that poor country because they're dying of AIDS. Often, the children of these mothers are infected too and they will be left as orphans to suffer alone.

Did you know that we have a serious emergency developing in this country among children aged 15 to 24?

We have to find a cure!

To help raise money towards finding that cure, I'm participating in a 5K walk in Long Beach, on June 21st, 2008. I've sent in my $25 registration, and – artificial hips and pins in my foot be darned! – I'll be walking.  I'm asking you to help by donating too. Any amount will be welcome, no matter how little you can afford. Or match my contribution. Or better yet, beat it! Please, open your heart and your checkbook.

Make your tax-deductible checks payable to “AIDS Walk Long Beach.”

I'm collecting them at:
Sheila Finch
Box 167
375 Redondo Ave
Long Beach, CA 90814.

Thank you for anything you can do to help!
Sheila.