So all our Christmas fun starts today. But not until we've had a blog thats actually very important to me.
Today, WORLD AIDS DAY walks away with it. Now, I must stress, that AIDS hasn't affected my family or anyone close to me at all - not to my knowledge anyway. But I've backed World AIDS Day every year since 2004, and will continue doing so.
Not convinced you? Look at the facts.
- 33.4m people worldwide have AIDS, and over 22m of them are in Africa.
- 14.1m children have been orphaned in Africa due to AIDS.
- Over 1.7m children died from an AIDS-related illness in the last 12 months.
- Over 4,100 African people - men, women and children - die EVERY DAY due to AIDS.
And then look at the money side of things.
- In the last 8 years, medical costs have dropped from $10,000 per person to under $100.
- It costs less than 20p to provide someone with HIV the two pills to keep them alive for another day.
- Last year, the combined GDP of the UK was a staggering $2.65 TRILLION. In the US, it was $14.2 TRILLION.
The money raised through the World AIDS Day ribbons, merchandise, and through (RED), has prevented over 4,000,000 deaths in Africa alone, and countless more throughout the globe.
4 million people have been kept alive thanks to you. And those who donate.
So why have that last pint tonight, when you could give an extra 12 days of life to a mother at deaths door? Why spend that 79p on your favourite song, when you'll hear it enough on the radio - and give it to a father who is the only source of income to his family.
£5 renting a DVD? Have an early night, and give an extra day to 25 people. Why buy a £20 round of coffees at Starbucks, when you could put that on a (RED) giftcard and give it to someone for Christmas? And not only that, you'd be saving 50 children from losing a parent.
I know I sound like I'm preaching, but this means a lot to me. We don't realise how lucky we are until we look at the facts. Because of AIDS, children are growing up never meeting their mothers, and their fathers know that their child is going to die in a few months due to the disease.
AIDS costs lives. And the money you give today, tonight, and over the next 12 months, is going towards finding a cure, and helping families throughout the globe.
Its a bit of money you can take out your pocket, and know that you'll walk away with a smile on your face.
WORLD AIDS DAY, Tuesday 1st December 2009 is yours.
ADAM'S TOP 50 SONGS
#50 - FAITHLESS - INSOMNIAC
A brilliant record. No-one recognises it until you get to that unforgettable break. Then this song comes into its own.
#49 - TRAVIS - DEAR DIARY
A hidden gem if you ask me. An album track that tells a story in itself, and you can really relate to the lyrics with any event in your life.
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