It seemed that all of the energy on Saturday might have been taken up by the UDP's March for Belize but that was hardly the case. While the UDP converged at the Memorial Park across the river at the Bliss Center, a tireless crew of volunteers was working to raise money for persons living with AIDS. Organizers set an ambitious target: to raise $100,000 through an all-day radio and telethon. Many scoffed at the idea; to think that in lean times with the political unrest, that regular folks and companies would reach into their pockets to give towards such a widely stigmatized cause. But doubt had to be cast aside when the final tally was announced. How much was it? You can find out in the following story.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
On Saturday a team of volunteers descended on the Bliss - taking pledges over the phone while frontline activists like as Dr. Paul Edwards conducted live interviews for the radio telethon. Indeed the telethon dominated the airwaves throughout the day with guest hosts such as Miss Belize Leilah Pandy calling out the names of those who had pledged and Indira Craig conducting interviews with the band members who were providing free entertainment.
Indira Craig,
“Alfonso it has been a lot of fun working on this project. We have a lot of media people here, about 15 radio stations and all the bands just doing there part to have people who are living with AIDS know that the community does care.”
And how could it not - because events such as these transform the issue of HIV infection from a problem of one small group to a community wide crisis.
Rodel Pererra,
“We have people living with HIV suffering from AIDS and we feel the money raised at this event living with hope will go to assist persons living with HIV suffering from AIDS especially children. I think we are looking very closely, at how we can assist children orphan children that have lost both their parents that do need some assistance. We have those that are going to a number of schools and we need to help them out as well as adolescents who are displaced who are unemployed, have the disease or are getting ill.”
And while the radio telethon played on until 6, on 15 radio stations countrywide, in the night, it was time for the telethon where hosts Ernesto Vasquez and Anne Wade took over the effort.
Anne Wade,
“We want to continue to encourage people to call in and pledge. Every dollar counts.”
And while the hosts did the soliciting, the musicians played the music.
[Aurelio Martinez Performing on Stage Alongside Paul Nabor]
And that triumphant, celebratory Paul Nabor ending was a fitting end to an evening that was a breakthrough success:
Rodel Pererra,
“We need to thank that big man for what we have accomplished this evening for what we have accomplished throughout the day. Our total so far at exactly 11 o’clock we are at $97,582.”
But still the effort has to continue:
Rodel Pererra,
“It is going to be a big help it is not enough I think that this is the first we are doing this living with hope and we will do it every year.”
San Pedro Town held a simultaneous Living with Hope radiothon which raised $25,000.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift