Some of you may be wondering what kind of a connection exists between Everest Team INSPI(RED) and Mother’s Day. At first glance, it may appear to be an unrealistic leap: a climbing team attempts to summit Mt. Everest on one continent to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in another. The connection is simple: It is the unbreakable bond of our human community.

After all, we are all sisters and brothers, living together, on mother Earth.

The members of Everest Team INSPI(RED), global citizens all, could have answered the call to service in a myriad ways. Instead, they chose to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS in Africa, shine their light on the stories of hope among men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS and inspire each of us to do what we can to help in the fight.

There are 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Africa—which has just over 10% of the world's population—is home to 68% (22.5 million). The disease is the leading cause of death in Africa, with approximately 4,400 people dying every day from AIDS. Women—many of them mothers—make up almost 61% of adults living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and, as a result, women and children are the hardest hit by the disease. An estimated 11.4 million children in Africa have been orphaned because of HIV/AIDS already and this number is growing. More than 1,000 children, most within sub-Saharan Africa, are infected with HIV each day.

But every time an adult begins AIDS treatment including antiretroviral drugs, or ARVs, the survival of children becomes less precarious. It costs just 40 cents to fund the two pills a day needed to keep someone with HIV in Africa alive. Still, more than 70% of the people in Sub-Saharan Africa live on fewer than two dollars a day and can not afford this medicine. AIDS is a preventable, treatable disease in Africa if the means exist to buy and administer the medicine that is needed.

(RED) works with the world's best brands to make unique (PRODUCT) RED-branded products and direct up to 50% of their gross profits to the Global Fund to invest in African AIDS programs with a focus on the health of women and children.

Everest Team INSPI(RED) leader, Jeff Dossett:

Please don't forget that Sunday, May 11th is Mother's Day in the US. I encourage you to visit Hallmark Gold Crown stores or www.hallmark.com/RED to consider the purchase of Hallmark's amazing (PRODUCT) RED cards and gift items. Thank you for learning more about (PRODUCT) RED and for making purchase decisions that can and do make a difference to those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa!

Friends of Everest Team INSPI(RED)

This Stateside Edition dispatch, is brought to you by Dell and Windows, proud partners of (PRODUCT) ^RED™.