The Tribune

CABLE Bahamas has announced that it has once again partnered with The Bahamas AIDS Foundation for its 23rd annual Red Ribbon Ball on Saturday, November 12.

The charity event will be held at the Atlantis resort’s Grand Ballroom under the theme, “Beyond the Mask” and is expected to raise thousands of dollars towards AIDS/HIV awareness, research and treatment.

Over the last 16 years, the company has shown its support for this cause through its generous donations to The Bahamas AIDS Foundation and its strong attendance at the annual ball.

“We know The Bahamas AIDS Foundation works so hard to bring education and awareness to assist in the prevention, treatment and care of those persons living with HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas,” REV Marketing Manager Melissa Baker said. “We applaud their efforts and pledge to continue our partnership in the fight against HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas and worldwide.”

The ball seeks to make advances towards eradicating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and the discrimination that affects those infected with the disease in Bahamian society.

Bahamas AIDS Foundation President Lady Camille Barnett expressed hopes that the community would become more empathetic and realise that people living with HIV/AIDS are just everyday citizens.

“We have people in our community who are HIV positive and don’t want others to know,” Lady Barnett said. “So they’re keeping this secret. They have this mask up, but we want people to look beyond the mask and see that they are human beings. They are brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles who need our compassion.”

In addition to advancing The Bahamas AIDS Foundation’s mission of achieving zero discrimination for HIV/AIDS patients, the annual ball will assist the organisation with providing widespread education and awareness as well as support for people living with HIV/AIDS. As all proceeds from the Red Ribbon Ball go towards The Bahamas AIDS Foundation, the event serves as a major fundraiser and is critical to the continuation of the organisation’s education and awareness workshops and research efforts.

Along with its many fundraisers and community initiatives, the organisation also provides third-line treatment to several patients – at an expense of $24,000 per year – as well as an after-school programme complete with tutors and a career development coordinator for youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

“All of these things require funding and that’s why the ball is such a key part of what we do,” Lady Barnett said, adding that hosting the annual ball would be difficult to accomplish without the help of corporate sponsors.

“Cable Bahamas always makes a donation towards the ball, which is great,” she noted. “We try to give people a top-of-the-line experience and that requires spending a significant amount of money. So, knowing you have some corporate sponsors who are supporting you makes all the difference. We wish that we had lots more corporate sponsors like Cable Bahamas. We’re quite pleased to have them as a partner.”

The 23rd Annual Red Ribbon Ball, a masquerade event, will include a champagne reception, prizes, a silent auction and live entertainment from Fred Ferguson and the Tingum Dem Band.

Tickets for the Red Ribbon Ball are $250.