Rock Red Pumps for Awareness

 These days I'm more of a jeans and sneakers girl, but raising awareness of the impact of HIV and aids on Girls and Women seemed like a great reason to Rock my red shoes!

Back in the late 80's it seemed like everywhere you went there was an AIDS Event, a red ribbon, a celebrity endorsement, something, to remind you of the impact of this disease. Well, the Red Ribbon fad may be gone, but the disease never goes away!
Fact: Every 9 1/2 minutes someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV!
Fact: Of those infected 23% are women!

Fact: from the beginning of the Epidemic through 2005, almost 86000 women have died of AIDS and AIDS-Related Complications.
Fact: The largest number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in recent years is from women aged 15-39.

15?! If the other facts don't make you take notice, that one should. Our teenage girls are being infected with HIV. Our children, the one's we promised to protect! We can't protect them from everything, and we can't always be there. Certainly you won't be there the moment they make the decision to have sex, but you can arm them with knowledge. Educate them to the importance of practicing safe sex.

Of course, no one wants to think that their 15 year old is having sex, but, teens are having sex. I would rather know my daughter is having sex safely, than have a doctor say she will suffer with HIV for the rest of her life! Wouldn't you?!
I urge you to use today to raise awareness, but use everyday to educate. This disease is not a fad. HIV doesn't go away!

Learn more at theredpumpproject.org