AEGiS News Service - December 1, 2006

After he had been diagnosed with HIV, Wynn Wagner was ready to die. Wynn had been practicing safer-sex since the 1980's, yet he still contracted HIV.

However, Wynn says, "I got on with my life after getting off of the pity pot and flushing it." And six months after he was diagnosed with HIV, Wynn penned "Day One." It is one of the most widely-read articles on HIV ever written.

In "Day One," Wynn shares five basic tips to help people with HIV build a 'survival kit.' These tips have given hope to thousands of people diagnosed with HIV and their loved ones. As one thankful reader wrote, "Every time I read it, I feel less desperate and less helpless. You helped me more than you will ever know." (1)

In "Day One," Wynn says that the absolute best medicines for someone diagnosed with HIV are knowledge and attitude .

I assume that you are familiar with the AIDS Education Global Information System (AEGiS). If you didn't know that AEGiS is home to more than 1.2 million documents--making it one of the largest websites on the Internet--now you know. There is no better place to build knowledge about HIV/AIDS than AEGiS.

Unfortunately, AEGiS can't directly change the attitudes of those diagnosed with HIV. But the best way to build a strong attitude is with a foundation of accurate information. This makes AEGiS one of the most valuable resources in the fight against AIDS.

And you can improve it.

By making a small contribution to AEGiS, you will do all of the following:

- You will spread the latest news regarding HIV/AIDS from around the world. Every day, AEGiS' five employees add news articles to the website. The articles can come from anywhere such as: New York, Bangkok, Greece, Malawi, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Uganda, or any place in-between.

- You will ensure free access to historical HIV/AIDS articles for millions of people. Today, an archived article from the Los Angeles Times costs about $4. AEGiS has access to over 3,000 articles from the Los Angeles Times archives alone. That's $12,000 worth of articles that AEGiS offers at no charge. ( AEGiS also offers the New York Times archived articles.)

- You will answer hundreds of anonymous, personal questions. Every month in their "Ask the Doc " section, AEGiS' contributing physicians answer questions that range from the simple to the complex. Sometimes they receive questions that can be answered with basic information. Other times, the physicians get questions like "My NP has said: 'May Stop Azithromycin 2-600 mg tablets once/week as preventative for MAC.' I am apprehensive, should I stop the medication?" In these cases, the doctors give a qualified second opinion.

- You will maintain AEGiS' servers. At any given moment, 200 people are viewing the AEGiS website. Over 9 million people, around the globe, visit AEGiS every year. It is vital that the website be accessible at all times.

- You will guarantee that AEGiS lives up to the Health On The Net Code of Conduct. This means: AEGiS will offer information to supplement, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship. AEGiS will NEVER try to pass off advertising as editorial information. And AEGiS will ALWAYS respect the privacy of its visitors.

Let me show you one last set of numbers. In a given year, AEGiS receives only $5,000 from private donations. Remember how, at any moment, 200 people are on the AEGiS website? What if, right now, each of those people donated $20? In an instant, those visitors could raise 80% of what AEGiS receives in donations, in a year!

By donating as little as $20, you can help AEGiS continue its mission of providing accurate, up-to-date information. AEGiS also plans to offer more of its documents in languages other than English. But, mostly, the employees at AEGiS want to make sure that the world's greatest HIV/AIDS resource survives for years to come.

Today is the perfect time to contribute. World AIDS Day is December 1st. This is the day that AIDS returns to the media's attention and the general public remembers to help out.

Please, forward this letter to your friends and family. The people with HIV/AIDS, researchers, and medical professionals that rely on AEGiS everyday will appreciate your contribution.

For your convenience, tax deductible donations can be made by simply clicking here. Or you can snail-mail us at:

AIDS Education Global Information System
32234 Paseo Adelanto, #B
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Thank you for your time,

Vanessa Robison
Director of Operations

Phone(voice) l.949.248-5843
E-mail: webmaster@aegis.org

IRS EIN Tax ID 33-0661931

(1) The information in the first three paragraphs comes from the article "Sit Down, Shut Up, and Row." Written by John R. Selig and published in the March 2001 issue of A&U

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Copyright © 2006 - Reproduced courtesy of copyright owner - listed on source line.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .