A rock concert will help raise money and awareness to fight AIDS.
RAGE II is a day-long concert designed to educate middle, high school and college students about the disease. The event will be held Sept. 18 at Tremont Music Hall from 1-9 p.m.
"I think that it's very important that we do an even like this because kids are not getting the message about protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS," said Scot O'Con, youth director
of Time Out Youth. "We all know that abstinence is the best way but that doesn't always work. The schools aren't doing anything to help them learn. Someone needs to do it."
Educating young people about HIV/AIDS is especially important to Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Richardson and his wife Mary. The couple, who lost a son to AIDS, is honorary chairs of the event.
"We have been involved in HIV/AIDS prevention program since before our son Gregory Douglas died in September 1995. He requested we work with people so that other people
wouldn't go through what he went through," Mary Richardson said. "When we were contacted about serving as co-chairs we decided to participate as part of our dedication to help educate others."
Organizers say the goal of the program is to educate at least 800 youth about HIV/AIDS. The first Rage concert, called RAGE Against AIDS, was held in 1996 and attracted 400
youth. O'Con said the name came from people being upset there was little information available about HIV/AIDS for young people.
According to statistics from the Mecklenburg Health Department and Centers for Disease
Control, HIV/AIDS education is badly needed among young people.
- In 1998, approximately 7,000 people age 10 to 24 become infected with HIV every day. That breaks down to five every minute.
- In Mecklenburg County, five HIV cases reported in 1998 was among residents 13 to 19 years old, compared to four in 1997 and two in 1996.
- The number of AIDS cases among 13 to 19 years old was two in 1998 compared to zero in the two previous years.
- AIDS ranks as the sixth-leading cause of death for young people age 15 to 24 years old. It ranks seventh for young people age 5 to 14 years old.
- Most adolescents recently infected with HIV are exposed to the virus through sexual intercourse or drug use.
Nine bands will play during RAGE II including, justincase, Mr. Dev'yon, Blakrayn and Rodie Ray. A side stage will feature youth speakers and skits between band performances. Groups
scheduled to participate include peer education groups at UNC Charlotte and Time Out Youth, a drama troupe from Johnson C. Smith University and other health organizations.
"We have received a lot of support from the musical community. In fact we had more bands to offer to play than we had room for," O'Con said. "I think the music is going to be the big
draw to get the children there and once we get them in a fun environment, they will be more attentive to the message."
Mary Richardson said she is especially hopeful that African Americans will make more of an
effort to be educated about HIV/AIDS.
"Of course we want our children to abstain but they are only human and sometimes they
don't," she said. "In that case the best thing to do is to teach them prevention."
The cost for the event is $7 in advance and $10 at the door. The first 25 people to purchase
tickets will receive a free RAGE II T-shirt. Tickets go on sale Aug. 30 at the Record Exchange, 1532 East Blvd. and the Time Out Youth office , 1900 The Plaza inside Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
For more information, call 344-8335.
