THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS
GOES TO THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON DC

Hughes’ wife Sheryl Lee Ralph to sit-in on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

As many of you are aware, my wife Sheryl has been a vocal fighter to defeat HIV/AIDS for over 25 years.  Her efforts have taken her throughout the nation and to numerous hard hit countries around the world.

The fight continues this Saturday (Sept. 27, 2008) on the steps of the  Lincoln Memorial, as Sheryl will be there at 10 a.m. to voice her outrage at the growth of the disease in the United States, and the cut in national funding to combat this growth. 

She is especially concerned about the growth of HIV in African American women, and the paltry resources that go to prevent that devastation.  AIDS is the #1 cause of death for African American women ages 25-44.  One in 160 African American females is infected with HIV.  Additionally, a growing number of teens are becoming infected with HIV.

Sheryl and I have fought the fight against HIV/AIDS for a long time.  We know that too many people for too many years, have remained silent, as this preventable disease has grown throughout the United States and throughout the world.  We also know that we must use any and all tactics available to us to raise the level of public conversation and to place this issue at a greater level of prominence in the policy debates that are now in front of us.

We are asking you to raise your voices and to let your elected officials know that talk is truly cheap and that it is time for substantive action.  Let them know that if we can find trillions of dollars to rescue Wall Street, we can surely find millions to advance the cause on this devastating disease.

If you would like more information about Sheryl's trip to Washington DC this Saturday, call my office at 215.471.0490, or visit www.senatorhughes.com, or www.testtogether.org.