New student organization raises money to support AIDS research

Student Health Outreach Team to highlight health issues throughout the year

Dozens of students, faculty and staff members wore red T-shirts on Dec. 1 to recognize AIDS Awareness Day.

The red shirts were sold by the Student Health Outreach Team, a new high school organization that aims to educate the Voorheesville community about various health issues.

The organization, which formed in October 2007, chose AIDS as its first issue to highlight. To do so, SHOT had T-shirts made up with AIDS statistics on the back, and sold them to staff for $7 and to students for $6.

SHOT sold 72 shirts, raising $125, which was sent to amFAR, an organization that raises money to support research that will lead to a cure for AIDS.

Fannie Liu, president of SHOT, said the event turned out to be more successful than planned, and the group had to buy more T-shirts because it sold the entire first batch.

“It was really successful in making people more aware that AIDS is still a problem worldwide,” she said.

SHOT plans to highlight a different health issue each month, Liu said.