He is well known now as half of the Grammy-winning duo Macklmore & Ryan Lewis, but when his mom was diagnosed as HIV-positive he was only a little boy. When his mom, Julie Lewis, gave birth to his older sister, she was given a transfusion which was tainted with the HIV virus. She wasn't diagnosed until after Ryan and his younger sister were born and thankfully, neither of them is HIV positive.

Thanks to medical advances in the treatment of HIV and AIDS, Julie Lewis, who was given only a few years to live at diagnosis, has now been thriving for 30 years. To celebrate, Ryan, with the blessing of his family and help from his musical partner Macklemore, has started the 30/30 Project.

The objective of the 30/30 Project Foundation is to provide affordable healthcare to communities around the world affected by HIV/AIDS. The initial goal is to raise $100,000 dollars in 30 days and build the first health center in Malawi, Africa, where 1 in 10 people are HIV-positive. They hope to build 3 more clinics in Kenya and a training center in Uganda.

Check out the official video:

If you'd like to donate, click here and you could get some nice rewards, (T-shirts, signed Macklemore & Ryan Lewis merchandise, concert tickets & more) depending on how much you give.

I know very little about this group and their music, but I do know I great cause and a heartfelt project when I see one!

 

 

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