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By Erik Alsgaard

Just over 25 years ago, a new disease was born. According to columnist George F. Will, writing in the Washington Post on June 6, the disease was originally called GRID - Gay-Related Immune Deficiency.

We know it today as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - AIDS.

Just over 25 years ago, the Centers for Disease Control reported, 'In the period October 1980-May 1981, 5 young men, all active homosexuals, were treated for biopsy-confirmed pneumocystis carinii pneumonia at 3 different hospitals in Los Angeles, California. Two of the patients died.'

Since then, the numbers are staggering:
? more than 20 million people have died because of AIDS; some peg the number even higher;
? In 2003, about 3 million people died of AIDS, three-quarters of whom lived in sub-Saharan Africa;
? in 2004, approximately 1.2 million women and 510,000 children - children - under the age of 15 died of AIDS-related causes;
? more than 65 million people have been infected with AIDS - 40 million alive right now - and more than 10 million of them are between the ages of 15 and 24;
? today, AIDS is the leading cause of death among African Americans in Washington, D.C.;
? and African Americans in Baltimore;
? and everyone in Africa.

The purpose of my column today is not to delve into the moral issues surrounding AIDS. In other words, I?m not wading into the issues of homosexuality, drug use and AIDS here. As Will accurately pointed out in his column, the best way to transmit AIDS from one person to another is through what is now commonly called high-risk behavior.

However, the numbers above tell me that it?s more than just high-risk behavior that is causing the spread of AIDS. Innocent people are dying; AIDS does not discriminate.

The purpose of my column today, however, is to say that it?s long past time to do something about AIDS. The purpose of my column today is to say, you can help. Here?s how.

At the recent session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, the Rev. Daryl Williams, director of planned giving and investments for the conference, and other leaders unveiled The Hope Fund. The Hope Fund is a way for every United Methodist to make a difference in three key areas:
1) Zimbabwe mission and ministry;
2) Hurricane Katrina relief efforts;
3) HIV/AIDS work at home and abroad.

The goal, said Williams, is to raise $1 million by annual conference 2008 for these causes, which will be divided 60/20/20, respectively.

Already, thanks to pace-setting gifts from individuals and churches like Bel Air UMC, more than $260,000 is in hand. Your church will be asked to participate this month, if it hasn?t already.

The money raised through The Hope Fund for HIV/AIDS will be sent to The United Methodist Church?s Global AIDS Fund, which is seeking to raise $8 million over the next four years. One-quarter of every dollar raised for The Fund stays in the community where it was donated.

In order to raise this money, we?re going to have to overcome some barriers and lay aside some out-dated beliefs. For example, I once heard a United Methodist say that she wasn?t going to give any money to any AIDS relief efforts because she didn?t know anyone with AIDS. Besides, she said, 'it?s a disease that affects gays and drug users.'

I used to not know anyone with HIV/AIDS. Then I met Dena. Dena was already there when I started work. She was the receptionist. She had a personality that just jumped out at you, a voice made for the telephone and a ready-made laugh that was infectious.

Dena became a friend and we shared rides to and from work. She babysat my children when I had to travel for work. She became, in a way, part of the family.

I knew Dena was HIV positive because she told me. She told me because she didn?t want me to 'catch it' from her; she told me because, she said, she wouldn?t babysit the kids if I thought it might be dangerous for them.

I asked her to educate me. How could I, how could my children, 'catch' HIV from her?

It would be almost impossible, she said.

And that was that.

Dena left her job shortly before I did. She left to tend her ailing mother. Instead, Dena?s drug cocktail began to fail her and her health declined. One day, not too long ago, I got an e-mail saying that Dena was dead.

She wasn?t even 40.

I signed the guest book the funeral home offered on the Web. I was pleased to notice I wasn?t the only one who did.

So go ahead and say you don?t know anyone with HIV/AIDS.

I do.

And so I give.

NOTE: The HIV/AIDS Ministry Team of First UMC in Hyattsville will be providing HIV testing and counseling, in conjunction with the Prince George?s County Health Department, at the church, 6201 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville, on Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be an information booth on HIV testing and all aspects of HIV/AIDS at The Mall at Prince George?s. A shuttle bus will be provided between the Mall and First Church on that Saturday. For more information, call the church, (301) 927-6133 or