For 'Countdown for a Cure,' Post Covers of 'That's What Friends Are For'

READ TIME: 2 MIN.

In honor of the 40 million lives lost and the countless lives impacted by HIV/AIDS, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is reigniting the fight to end the epidemic with a rally cry. amfAR is asking the world to contribute to the cure by singing and uploading brief covers of the song "That's What Friends Are For" on social media using the hashtag: #SingForAIDS

"That song belongs to all of us. Us who are in the fight against the dreaded disease called AIDS," said Elizabeth Taylor.

This December marks 30 years since the epidemic began and 30 years since the song topped Billboard's charts at #1. Originally performed by Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Gladys Knight, the song exemplifies the importance of friendships and support from loved ones when going through personal moments and milestones. amfAR could not have achieved the milestones in this battle without its friends.

Until December 1, amfAR's celebrities and supporters will be participating in the #SingForAIDS social campaign. We hope that you'll help us get one step closer to a cure by issuing a social media post.

amfAR's Countdown to a Cure for AIDS is a research initiative aimed at developing the scientific basis for a cure by 2020. Launched in February 2014, the Countdown is designed to intensify amfAR's cure-focused HIV research program through strategic investments of $100 million over the next five years.

There has never been a more optimistic time in the world of HIV/AIDS research. The case of the Berlin Patient, first reported in 2008, was a watershed moment and a proof of principle that a cure was possible. This and other breakthroughs over the last several years have brought the scientific community a new understanding of the challenges that must be overcome to get to a cure. And there is growing confidence that, with the right investments, these challenges can be overcome.

This momentum, coupled with the availability of new and emerging technologies, has led us to believe that now is the time to mount an all-out effort to find a cure that will herald the beginning of the end of HIV/AIDS.

We'll plan on sharing celebrity videos with you in the hope that you'll regram or retweet them. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit http://amfar.org/countdown/


Read These Next