Golf Fore Africa Raises Money For AIDS Relief

I am a golfer as well as someone with a deep interest in Africa, so when I heard about Golf Fore Africa, I had to get on the bandwagon to spread the word about this excellent cause.

Betsy King, whose Hall of Fame career produced 36 LPGA tournament wins including six major championships, has dedicated her life to helping others in need. In 2007, King founded Golf Fore Africa to heighten awareness of the terrible plight of children who were orphaned as a result of the devastating AIDS pandemic that is so prevalent throughout much of the African continent. The year before, King had made a trip to Africa with the World Vision organization and was deeply affected by the suffering and desperate living conditions she encountered.

Golf Fore Africa is dedicated to bringing hope and support to African children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS. Funding is made available to a wide range of critical projects necessary to improve the quality of life, such as access to medical care, education, agricultural assistance and clean water resources.

On May 23rd, King will host a limited field event at GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford, New York, to raise much-needed funds and awareness for the communities in Africa that her charity supports. King will be joined by an impressive list of active LPGA golfers including Jiyai Shin, who was No. 1 in the 2010 Rolex Rankings, Brittany Lincicome, Stacey Lewis, Katherine Hull and Azahara Munoz, LPGA rookie of the year in 2010.

The per person entry fee is $3,000, which includes breakfast, lunch and a clinic with Betsy and the LPGA pros. Each participant will have the opportunity to play with three different pros.
GlenArbor, designed by the legendary Gary Player, enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest private clubs in an area known for some of the country’s most historic and iconic golf clubs. GlenArbor welcomes the Golf Fore Africa intimate event, particularly as the club supports the improvement of educational and living opportunities for underprivileged children.

For more information regarding playing spots in this exceptional event for a worthwhile cause, please contact Debbie Quesada at (408) 284-5818 or debbie@golfforeafrica.org.

Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.

Congo War Spreads HIV/AIDS

The spread of HIV/AIDS is among the many deplorable effects of the continuous violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the country as a whole has an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 3.2%, UNAIDS reports that prevalence of the infection among women who have suffered sexual violence in areas of armed conflict may be as high as 20%.

The eastern provinces have seen an astounding number of terror rapes--one every half hour, 24 hours every day--with a corresponding rise in HIV/AIDS.

Children are affected, too, both by infections through mother-to-child transmission and the loss of a parent to the disease. According to UNAIDS, 120,000 children under the age of 15 are infected with HIV.

While Congolese government efforts to fight the epidemic are not inconsiderable and the US provided $10.6 million specifically for essential HIV/AIDS programs to the DRC through USAID in fiscal 2008, getting assistance to the war zones is all but impossible. Over 1,000,000 people are homeless as a direct result of the fighting in the region, further complicating the delivery of essential medical services of all types.

While there is little we as individuals can do to stop the violence in the DRC, we can help its victims. One organization I support is Women For Women International, a leading force in helping women and their families re-establish their lives.

Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.