Hundreds of balloons to be released to remember those living with AIDS

The Rainbow Project in partnership with Derry City Council will this year mark Worlds Aids Day on Saturday 1st December, by releasing hundreds of balloons from the city’s iconic Peace Bridge.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Nov 2012, 06:28 BST

World Aids Day is officially marked each year in an effort to highlight the need to increase awareness, fight prejudice, improve education and raise money for the fight against AIDS and HIV. Equally it is a day which can be used to lobby Government and Health Agencies to improve laws and testing for those living with the illness.

Derry City Council’s Community Relations Officer, Julia Kee said: “We are supporting the annual World AIDS Day and marking this significant date by providing a visual and colourful spectacle so that people in the city and beyond remember those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS. Equally it will give us the opportunity to promote awareness and address the stigma which is still attached to this illness.

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“Alarmingly, statistics show that more people than ever in UK and Ireland are living with HIV; and even more shocking is the estimated number of people that are living unaware that they are carriers of the virus. World Aids day provides an important platform to highlight and lobby for improved service delivery, promote awareness and fight prejudice for those living with HIV and Aids.”

Danny McCartney, (Manager of Rainbow Project, Foyle Branch) with the Rainbow Project commenting on the event said, “It is important that we mark this day in solidarity with cities and countries around the world. The work in battling this epidemic has been immense to date, but as the numbers of people dying with AIDS is decreasing due to the availability of the antiretroviral drugs, the prevalence of HIV cases is still worrying. AIDS and HIV has not gone away, it is still an issue in the developed world and vitally important that we highlight this on World Aids Day.”

Encouraging all to come along and support the marking of World Aids Day, the public will be asked to gather at the Ebrington / City side of the Peace Bridge at 12pm on Saturday, December 1.

Light refreshments will be served after the event in the City Hotel, to accommodate numbers, those attending are asked to RSVP to the Rainbow Project on 028 7128 3030.

More information on World Aids Day can be found here

Related topics:Government