UQ students out to paint the town red

Safe is the new sexy.

That’s the message The University of Queensland global health club Towards International Medical Equality (TIME) will be promoting at a fundraising party for HIV research on Friday 2 August, 2013.

Since its inception in 2011, TIME’s Red Aware Campaigns have raised thousands of dollars for HIV/AIDS treatment and research.

This year, all profits raised will be donated to the Keep a Child Alive (KCA) Medical Services Clinic in Kampala, Uganda and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) HIV Molecular Virology Laboratory.

2013 campaign coordinators, medical students Maxwell Braddick and Katherine Gridley, are urging Brisbane to support the TIME Red Party from 7pm “’til late” at SYC Studios, 37 Manilla Street, East Brisbane.

“The fight against HIV/AIDS is everyone’s responsibility,” Mr Braddick said.

“Regardless of race, colour or orientation, we all have a part to play in averting the spread of such a devastating but preventable disease.

“The KCA Medical Clinic offers essential medical, food and shelter services for over 400 HIV affected families a day in the Kampala region. It also provides around-the-clock support for those who need it the most, and plays a huge role in treating HIV in Uganda,” he said.

A campaign coordinator since 2011, Katherine Gridley is particularly excited about the other beneficiary of this year’s campaign.

“The QIMR HIV Molecular Virology Laboratory is dedicated to research into new and effective ways to combat the disease, and has been supported by Red Campaign donations since it all began,” Ms Gridley said.

“This has never been more important, as an exciting new anti-retroviral drug developed by that laboratory entered a trial phase this year.

“As medical students, we believe that safe is the new sexy. We want as many people as possible to dress in their best red-themed attire and join us for the first-ever Safe Sex Olympics - a battle of trivia and wit between nominated health science student colleagues.”

Tickets and drinks cards are available online at http://www.trybooking.com/DDFL.

Tickets are $12 for TIME members and $15 for non-members.

For more information visit http://timeuq.org/about/, email RED@timeuq.org.