The departure date for our Europe-Middle East-Africa adventure is fast approaching.  As you may already be aware, one of our goals for this trip is to raise funds for Toronto-based Dignitas International to help in the fight against the impact and further spread of HIV in Africa.  Please take a moment to support our Ride for Dignity.  Even a modest donation will mean tangible results on the ground in Africa.  Over 80 cents of every dollar that Dignitas raises goes directly to the field where it directly helps those who need it most. 

Below is a summary of some of the recent successes that Dignitas (in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health) has achieved in the Zomba district of southern Malawi since October of 2004:

• More than 5,000 children and adults have been started on life-saving ARVs; 
• An average of 250+ new patients continue to gain access to these medications each month;
• An average of 3,500+ people continue to be tested for HIV each month at 31 HIV Testing & Counselling (HTC) sites;
• 31,000+ mothers-to-be have accessed Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services to help prevent transmission of HIV to their newborns;
• An average of 1,400+ mothers-to-be continue to access PMTCT services each month at 23 PMTCT sites;
• Hundreds of trained home-based care workers continue to provide essential care to the most ill patients in their homes;
• 15 community-based organizations in Zomba District are supported; and
• 1,000+ attendees continue to be directly reached through HIV/AIDS prevention education activities every month.

Please visit our Ride for Dignity fundraising page.   Thanks so much to those who have already made a donation.  You have almost certainly helped save lives.