World Aids Day Dinner
This December Sydney’s Royal Randwick Race Course will play host to the first World AIDS Day Dinner (WADD) charity event.
The event is to raise awareness about living with HIV and AIDS as well as to support The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation with a portion of the proceeds going to St. Vincent’s Hospital Patient Support Fund.
Creator of the event Eric Nair says community awareness of HIV/AIDS has dwindled in the last decade and he hopes the dinner will spark awareness of the illness that still affects thousands of Australians.
“AIDS is no longer a death sentence in Australia,” he said.
“Antiviral drugs and medical care has helped with that but we still need to remain vigilant and support those living with the disease.”
The latest figures from charity group Avert estimates there were 17,444 people living with HIV in Australia at the end of 2008 with 6,765 recorded deaths since the discovery of the disease.
Held on December 1 the event will feature a three-course meal as well as live music and artistc performances.
The World dinner is supported by prominent Australians such as Governor General Quentin Bryce and former High Court Justice Michael Kirby and is expected to be attended by some of Australia’s most high profile performers, actors and sports figures.
By Simon Black
