Help support Inanda Care Center, South Africa

Open letter from Elisabeth

http://www.active.com/donate/flynn


Hi friends -

Some of you may know that I've been training since November to run the New
Jersey marathon on April 17, and as part of my efforts I'm raising funds for the
Inanda Day Centre in Inanda, South Africa - a poverty-stricken settlement of
about 300,000 people in the outskirts of Durban. Opened in 2002, the Centre
provides a clean and safe haven for patients of all ages suffering from HIV, in
a country that has been devastated by the disease. The Centre is housed in two
donated ship containers, and offers medical treatment, meals, and counseling
services - but as of 2004 they have not had access to antiretroviral drugs, or
funds to do many bloodwork tests. Ten caregivers, including a professional
nurse, work there---only three receive payment. As the crisis worsens, the
Centre hopes to find funding to be open more than their current twice-a-week
schedule, and to take in more of the ever-increasing number of patients who come
seeking help.

I first learned of the Centre through NYC-based photographer Ken Wong, who
brought his exhibition 'Face-to-Face: An Intimate Look at the AIDS Crisis in
South Africa' to our Museum last year. After seeing the photos and statistics,
and reading the stories of Inanda patients in their own words, it was impossible
not to be moved by the enormity of the crisis there - but also by the efforts of
people who work at places like the Inanda Day Centre, in the face of what seem
to be insurmountable odds.

South Africa has the unfortunate distinction of having the world’s largest
number of HIV infections; 20 percent of all adults are positive; and life
expectancy for both men and women has dropped to 44 years. By 2010 it is
estimated there will be 1.5 million South African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.


There's much more information available (see: www.facetofaceaids.org and
www.hospice.co.za) but to keep this brief, I’m asking you to consider making a
donation on behalf of the Inanda Day Centre. Even a little bit of money can make
a difference here - where $3,636 is the annual salary for the two chief
caregivers. $20 could provide free meals for five patients. So please consider a
donation if you can, and feel free to get in touch (ebflynn@...) if
you’d like more information about the project.

Secure donations can be made at: www.active.com/donate/flynn

Thank you for your help! - Elisabeth

* if you'd prefer regular mail, you can send a donation to my attention at 811
S. 11th St. #2, Phila. PA 19147. Please make checks out to: Highway
Hospice/Inanda Day Centre. (Donations to Highway Hospice are tax-deductible, but
we are suggesting a $50 minimum donation in that case to reduce paperwork on
their end).