The story here is not about her, but her motivating factor to finish the race on November 7th: Madame X is running the marathon to raise awareness and funds for the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA).In 1988, several key African women leaders met at the 4th International AIDS Conference in Stockholm, Sweden and accurately predicted that HIV/AIDS would most severely impact women on their continent. It was at that moment that the seeds for the creation of SWAA were planted.Today SWAA is the only pan-African AIDS organization working with and for women and their families based on locally determined needs and priorities. SWAA mobilizes communities by strengthening capacity to prevent, control and mitigate the impact of the epidemic. Today, SWAA is a network of thirty-nine grassroots country offices.However difficult the 26 mile trek is going be for Madame X, nothing could compare to the struggle millions of women face every day in numerous countries across Africa. An estimated 14 million children are living today who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS.

Elderly grandmothers are without funds or support to look after these orphaned grandchildren. Even those women who, against all odds, are living with the disease are unable to access anti-retrovirals (ARVs) and other necessary health care in order to both better and prolong their lives. SWAA activities at the national and international levels respond to this call to action. Madame X hopes that you will join her in helping SWAA in their efforts to eradicate AIDS, one mile at a time..

The inaugural AIDS Walk was launched by Miller at Paramount Pictures in July of 1985, with a host of well-known celebrities joining Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and other local elected officials to open the first event of its kind for AIDS. Participation that first year reached more than three times its goal of 1,000 walkers, and raised over $673,000 for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). In 2004, the AIDS Walks produced by Miller drew more than 92,000 participants, and raised over $11 million for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, APLA, Gay Men's Health Crisis, and many other AIDS organizations in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.To arrange an interview with Craig R. Miller, please contact: Andrew SousaManager of Public RelationsAIDS Walk(213) 201-9255.

Technological developments have allowed hearing aids to "hear" better for us while becoming so small, they can barely be seen. The basic concept of a hearing aid has been to amplify all sound ? this includes voices as well as other "noise" in the background. Now, if you have hearing loss in a particular frequency range, but your hearing aid amplifies all sounds ? the net result is an amplification of sounds you can already hear, but no improvement in the sounds you can't. This result leads to a lot of frustration.On the other hand, new hearing aids offer amplification for specific frequency ranges, while leaving the rest at a normal level. The result is better hearing and less frustration for the hearing aid user.

Contemporary hearing aids can be custom made to cover your specific type of hearing loss or pre-programmed to adjust to a variety of environmental settings.Another advantage contemporary hearing aids offer concerns the type of microphone used to amplify sounds. Without getting too complex, microphones come in two main styles ? unidirectional and omnidirectional. A unidirectional microphone has a limited, focused range and its use in a hearing aid reduces amplification of surrounding sounds. This type of microphone is good for individual conversations or watching TV. An omnidirectional microphone picks up a variety of sounds in a wide physical range.

In a hearing aid application, this amplification would be good for attending a sporting event, a church service or a business meeting.Contemporary hearing aids, especially those with digital technology, utilize both types of microphones and can automatically detect which type of sound to amplify in any given situation.Some people who have used hearing aids in the past felt disappointed in past performance. However, great strides have been made in hearing aid technology and hearing testing that make it worthwhile for those suffering hearing loss to get new tests performed, or upgrade their current hearing aids..

Many of the body's functions that have been either damaged or lost can be restored with technology so advanced, it would make even those fictional doctors green with envy.For those who are baby boomers, we have two things in common. First, we probably all remember that television show! Second, we have spent the better part of our lives unwittingly destroying our hearing. Noise exposure in today's society has risen to such an intense and pervasive level that significant and permanent hearing loss by late-middle age is the rule, not the exception. Without The Bionic Woman's doctors to outfit us with a supersensitive bionic ear, what are we to do?The only solution available to most Americans with hearing damage is hearing aids. However, this alternative is not without criticism.

In fact, the main disadvantage of conventional hearing aids comes from the fact that they typically make every noise louder. Therefore, a car honking, a jet on takeoff, even a concert recording, all become unbearable to an individual wearing traditional hearing instruments. No wonder so many people fitted with these aids leave them in a dresser drawer! However, hearing-health leader GN ReSound has developed an answer to this issue.GN ReSound has been in the business of creating hearing-health solutions for more than 50 years. Its latest advancement, based on extensive research with traditional hearing aids and its own efforts to digitize sound, has resulted in the Canta7 (pronounced Cn-ta) product line. Featuring "3D Digital" Technology, this innovation digitally reconstructs sound.

What does that mean? Bottom line -- its smart technology knows the difference between noise and speech. With this new system, noises are not amplified, and speech is clarified. Big difference.Hearing loss has reached epidemic proportions, with more than 28 million in the United States alone who cannot distinguish words such as fork, torque and short -- it's the initial consonants of "f," "t" and "s" that throw them off. In addition, the number of younger people facing damage is steadily increasing, raising the concerns of those in the hearing health care industry and government health organizations. So if you missed out on the "protect your hearing" message, you're now faced with the message "correct your hearing." And to do that, the bionic opportunities have never been better.That's where GN ReSound's exclusive advancement -- 3D Digital Technology -- comes into the picture.

Today, with the incorporation of digital technology and the use of micro-miniature computer processors, hearing-impaired patients can be fitted with sophisticated hearing instruments. They analyze incoming sounds; isolate and actually suppress the noise; digitally reconstruct speech to make it recognizable to the impaired ear; and virtually eliminate that awful, high-pitched squeal of feedback often associated with basic-level hearing aids. "I've been in the hearing health care field for many years and seen constant innovations and upgrades to hearing aids," said audiologist Dr. Jim McDonald, past president of a national audiology organization. "However, this latest innovation is truly revolutionary in how it will increase patients' speech understanding -- and ultimately their satisfaction with hearing instruments as a solution to their loss."The world of bionic hearing truly has arrived.

And in today's world of excessive noise exposure and its associated increase in permanent hearing damage, these technological advancements have arrived just in time to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans with hearing loss.For more information on societal noise exposure, effective use of ear protection, or the advantages of 3D Digital Technology, please contact GN ReSound at 800-248-4327..

Babies start crawling and walking and talking. Older children enter school. Children we remember being in grade school "just yesterday" are getting ready to leave school and enter their adult lives.There is one change we may notice in our friends and relatives that we won't comment on ? hearing loss. Hearing loss is something we should mention to people we care about because it is often not apparent to the sufferer. In fact, age related hearing loss often takes place over a long period of time.

Additionally, when it is identified, it is often too late to do very much about. So, what should you pay attention to if you think someone you care about is suffering from hearing loss?

• a ringing, roaring, hissing or buzzing in the ear
• trouble determining television sounds from real sounds
• dizziness and loss of balance
• difficulty hearing low pitched sounds or whispers
• moderate to severe vision impairment

Encourage your loved one to see a hearing professional or do some research on the internet. Hearing Aid Match will even give you a free hearing test.It's easy to point out a positive change in someone you care about, but sometimes it's necessary to point out, in a loving manner, changes that aren't so positive. Hearing loss is one of those changes that need to be pointed out. This holiday season, pay special attention to those you care about who may have this problem..

On the other hand, if you have developed some hearing impairment, you'll be glad it was diagnosed early.There may be some readers out there who know they are hard of hearing, but have done nothing about it. Fear, or a sense of loss could be holding you back from enjoying life to the fullest. Today's hearing aids possess advanced technology that can improve your hearing and your lifestyle. Best of all, they're smaller than ever. Some "completely in the ear canal" (CIC) models are virtually invisible.

Resolve to overcome your fears about your hearing loss and schedule a consultation with a qualified hearing aid dispenser in your area. Once you face your fears and overcome, you'll be glad you made this resolution.Others reading this article may own hearing aids, but don't wear them. Or you may know someone like that. If this is your situation, resolve to find out why. Are your hearing aids uncomfortable? Do they not provide noticeable amplification? Are you concerned about what other people think? Do you think a hearing aid is a sign of advancing age? Whatever the reason is you don't wear your hearing aid, it needs to be addressed this year.

There could be many reasons for these problems and a qualified hearing aid dispenser can address all of these questions. This year resolve to improve your hearing health.Hearing is something many of us take for granted. Get your hearing tested or resolve your hearing health issues. This year, put your hearing health at the top of the New Year's resolution list!http://www.hearing-aid-match.com.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), at least half of all HIV infections in the United States are among people under 25 and the majority of these young people are infected sexually. Minorities are hardest hit. The CDC reports that 84% of girls ages 13-19 with AIDS are African-American or Hispanic and 62% of boys ages 13-19 with AIDS are African-American or Hispanic. "HIV and AIDS affect everybody. Kids feel invincible.

This contest helped kids realize they are vulnerable," says actress and writer Jasmine Guy, a contest spokesperson.The call for entries yielded nearly 400 stories from all over the country, as well as international responses from London, Nigeria, Zambia and Canada. Young people also reached out from prison to share their thoughts. There were stories entered about incest, rape, drug addiction, spousal and child abuse, and other heart-rending issues that will find a voice in a print compilation. The contest is Select Media's first annual competition in collaboration with The HEAR ME Project, a nonprofit 501c3 organization. The contest was created to get young people thinking about their own personal vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and to give them a chance to have their voices and stories heard in a meaningful context.

Many entrants wrote letters directly to the celebrity judges thanking them for "hearing me"."This competition is a fresh way to get young people thinking about their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS. The celebrity support validates these kids and says, 'your life is important to us - protect it'," says Dr. Loretta Sweet Jemmott, Professor and Director of the Center for Health Disparities at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing.The runners up are Alex Adams, 19 (Cincinnati, OH); Jody-Ann Cross, 20 (Huntington Station, NY); Brian Delguidice, 16 (San Leadnro, CA); Karla Kimble, 20 (Moreno Valley, CA); KC Ligon, 18 (Ardmore, OK); Shavon Meyers, 20 (Brooklyn, NY); Jessica Prince, 15 (Philadelphia, PA); Ladie Odyessy Samuel, 21 (Lithonia, GA); Tim Seto, 20 (Brooklyn, NY), and Xandra Carroll, 17 (Littleton, CO) who gets a special mention for her story about, HIV and AIDS in Africa.Select Media has been publishing and producing award-winning, research-based curricula and films on critical health issues since 1988. Three of Select Media's curricula, co-authored by Drs. John and Loretta Jemmott, have been selected by the CDC for the prestigious and competitive "Programs That Work" Curriculum Award; Select Media's library includes, Nicole's Choice, Sex, Drugs & HIV and The Subject Is: HIV among other award-winning educational films.For further information, contact Tyree Oredein at 212-941-2309 or visit www.selectmedia.org..

On the other hand, if you have developed some hearing impairment, you'll be glad it was diagnosed early.There may be some readers out there who know they are hard of hearing, but have done nothing about it. Fear, or a sense of loss could be holding you back from enjoying life to the fullest. Today's hearing aids possess advanced technology that can improve your hearing and your lifestyle. Best of all, they're smaller than ever. Some "completely in the ear canal" (CIC) models are virtually invisible.

Resolve to overcome your fears about your hearing loss and schedule a consultation with a qualified hearing aid dispenser in your area. Once you face your fears and overcome, you'll be glad you made this resolution.Others reading this article may own hearing aids, but don't wear them. Or you may know someone like that. If this is your situation, resolve to find out why. Are your hearing aids uncomfortable? Do they not provide noticeable amplification? Are you concerned about what other people think? Do you think a hearing aid is a sign of advancing age? Whatever the reason is you don't wear your hearing aid, it needs to be addressed this year.

There could be many reasons for these problems and a qualified hearing aid dispenser can address all of these questions. This year resolve to improve your hearing health.Hearing is something many of us take for granted. Get your hearing tested or resolve your hearing health issues. This year, put your hearing health at the top of the New Year's resolution list!Hearing Aid Match.

The DSP offers the wearer a selection of programs, from "amplifier" to "electronic hearing protection", suitable for a wide range of listening environments. The 3-D microphone is a modified pressure-zone microphone, common in the professional audio industry. This microphone allows a depth-of-field and directionality previously unavailable in the hearing instrument industry.The sound amplifiers are made with the soft, flexible 21st Century SoftEar technology. The soft shell housing discreetly snuggles into the ear canal, creating a better seal to minimize feedback, and unlike hard shell hearing instruments, the soft Aurilink Sound Magnifier flexes rather than shifts when the jaw moves.The Aurilink Sound Magnifier is perfect for people who:? Have trouble with soft speech or whispers? Hear but can't always understand? Find they hear better when they see the speaker's face? Often need to have things repeatedAll Sound Magnifiers come with a one-year limited warranty as well as a risk-free 30-day home trial. Free shipping is available for a limited time.

For more information on the Aurilink Sound Magnifiers, visit www.CobbAudiology.com or call 770-590-8662.About Aurilink Sound MagnifiersAurilink Sound Magnifiers are discreet, soft shell in-canal hearing instruments. They are composed of high quality digital sound processors and microphones capable of receiving sounds in the speech frequency range (250Hz-6000Hz). These sounds are magnified by up to 30dB, then delivered into the ear canal through the receiver. The Aurilink Sound Magnifier may not be suitable for those whose hearing loss exceeds 50dB at 500, 1000, or 2000Hz.About Aurilink, Inc.Aurilink was founded in 1998 to provide affordable hearing instruments to people of all ages. The developers of the Aurilink Sound Magnifiers are university-trained audiologists and engineers, and have spent thousands of hours testing and counseling patients with hearing loss and fitting and dispensing hearing instruments.

Professional Press Release Marketing by Xeal.

If people have the right information and the ability to act on it across the world schools, organizations, and companies who will volunteer their talent, ambitions, and hope in order to educate our communities and start the tide against this devastating disease.About ?Living for a Cure?' Pouch bag with free information inside to educate our Communities, Schools, and Workplace about HIV/AIDS. Show your support, and carry the message that you are "Living for a Cure?", and educating to stop this epidemic. What One Earth Foundation would like you to do is show your support and reach for Partnerships or Collaborate in your area with local high schools, organizations, and companies that will join you in carrying the message that they are "Living for a Cure"?, and educating, and bring Awareness about HIV/AIDS.(Every time someone wears a living for a cure? wristband, and carry a living for a cure? Pouch you have just reached one and taught one about HIV/AIDS). Not only is it a great fundraiser for your organization you have just become a part of a nationwide history effort to educate about HIV/AIDS. One Earth Foundation has started our partnership program with schools, organizations, and companies from the USA to UK, and hope that you will join us.About One Earth FoundationFounded in 2002, Atlanta based One Earth Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit HIV/AIDS prevention organization committed to fighting the growing HIV/AIDS cases around the country with an emphasis on the areas and groups with the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS cases such as America's Inner City Communities and African American Women.

As a nonprofit, One Earth Foundation, Inc uses proceeds raised from sales of ?Living for a Cure?' Wristbands and Pouch back into HIV/AIDS prevention and research programs. Some of the programs include prevention initiatives, community outreach and public health screenings. Find additional information regarding One Earth Foundation and prevention programs online at www.1earthfoundation.orgNow more then ever before the challenge to stop the AIDS epidemic is paramount. Considering the facts, preventive AIDS education is critically needed in African American communities. While there is no cure at this time - only treatment - for the AIDS virus, prevention is still the only cure.

AIDS education works!The involvement of Corporate Leaders, Organizations, CEO's, Educator's, Health Organizations, Entertainers, Celebrities, Community Leaders, Government Leaders, Church Leaders, and Business Owners can make a significant difference in promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS in our communities. One Earth will be listing the National Campaign, and all our partners and friends on our website that get visitors from all around the world ordering the wristband and Pouch will be able to see how we are "Passing the Ribbon"?, and united together to educate our community. For addition information please contact Tracy Carr at 678-318-7512 Ext. 307 or www.1earthfoundation.org.Press Contact: Tracy Carr678-318-7512 Ext. 307One Earth Foundation, Inc.www.1earthfoundation.org.