Doing good can be beautiful.
This Sunday, Chattanooga CARES and Chattanooga Market will team up for the 14th annual Cut Up for Life event.
Local salons and spas, including Studio 59, Creative Images and Studio La Vie, will be on hand to provide haircuts, manicures and massages in an effort to raise money and awareness. All funds will be donated to Chattanooga CARES, a local HIV/AIDS clinic and outreach resource.
Jerry Evans, assistant executive director of Chattanooga CARES, said that while he has seen awareness about HIV/AIDS grow in the area, there is still more that needs to be done.
“We probably mimic most places in that unless it hits home, you don’t become aware,” he said. “I have seen more awareness in this area from our young people. But we’re still seeing a lot of stigma attached to HIV.”
He said Chattanooga CARES tries to work with schools as much as possible to promote education and awareness among teenagers. There is, however, still a certain amount of challenge associated with teaching about HIV/AIDS in schools here.
“We’re in the Bible Belt. The educational messages that we’re allowed to give out many times are limited, as far as risk reduction,” Evans said. “We just want to be able to answer the questions honestly and openly. We’re not going to go in with the message of condom usage, but if they ask us about it, we want to say ‘yeah, it greatly reduces your chances of getting an STD.’ But sometimes, in this region, you’re much more limited as to what you can do in terms of harm reduction.”
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 56,000 become infected with HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, each year.
IF YOU GO
* What: Cut Up for Life at Chattanooga Market.
* When: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
* Where: First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.
* Admission: Free to market; Cut Up for Life vouchers are $20.
* Phone: 265-2273 or 648-2496.
* Website: www.chattanoogacares.org.