A Good Habit

• Aug
  14
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While this post started out as a "fun" and "light" entry on a nun who runs, the more we learned, the more serious it became, for there is a serious issue that keeps Sister Mary Elizabeth running - Children orphaned because of AIDS. In the U.S., 67,000 children will be orphaned this year due to AIDS. In Ethiopia, 400,000 children will be orphaned this year due to AIDS. In India, 4,000,000 children will be orphaned this year due to AIDS. And China, won't even release their numbers. - Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd. We came across Sister Mary Elizabeth's story on the New York Times website. The New York Times is doing an exposé called Running Voices and Sister Mary Elizabeth is just one of the participants. But what a participant. “I run in a habit as a statement because then people say, ‘Why are you running in your habit?’ ” she says. “It gives me a chance to tell them I’m running for the children.” 60 year old, Sister Mary Elizabeth has been HELPING THOSE IN NEED throughout the world for the past 12 years. She is the author of AIDS ORPHANS RISING and uses competitive distance running to raise awareness for this growing issue. In a touching interview with Richard R. Blake of Reader Views, Sister Mary Elizabeth paints a bleak picture for these millions of orphaned children worldwide. "I fear for these children and the world. The numbers are staggering, when you walk through villages that were once filled with families you find only children, or just abandoned huts...More than 75% of the orphans are girls with no education and nowhere to go. Most have only prostitution to turn to." The U.N. predicts that there will be 25 million orphans from AIDS by 2010. This staggering number is enough to make anyone feel like there is no hope. But Sister Mary Elizabeth offered up a great solution. "We are all in this world together. When anyone on earth suffers we should all be concerned. No matter your belief I think the world is beginning to realize whether it is a Tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or assassination…we are all affected and we all have a responsibility to help each other. All countries are pulling together for global warming…let’s pull together to help the children…they need love most of all, then food and education." Right on sister! We couldn't have said it better ourselves. So get into the habit (pun or nun intended) and HELP Those in NEED... or do your part to HEAL the SICK and put an end to the disease that is leaving so many children without a family. And of course, Run, Nun Run!

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