A group of Tearfund volunteers from across Pembrokeshire met up with manager of Tearfund in Wales, Sion Meredith, on the Tuesday to launch Tearfund's new Work A Miracle Appeal.

"Tearfund has been working in poor communities for 40 years. But in the last two decades, an invisible enemy has emerged to unravel the progress that has been made - it's the biggest human disaster of our time, HIV and AIDS," said Tearfund's Sion Meredith.

"Tearfund's vision is to stop the spread of HIV in the poorest places where they work by 2015. This year's aim is to raise £2 million pounds. The overall aim is to raise £60 million by 2015.

"It's a big goal," added Sion. "Money can't buy miracles, but it can buy clinics, it can buy education, orphan care and provide training for volunteers to do HIV testing and counselling," continued Sion.

Sion shared with the group the story of Malawi mother, Esther, and her daughter Alinafe, 10. Esther is HIV positive. Esther's main worry is that she has passed the HIV on to her daughter. HIV can be passed from mother to child during child birth. The Work A Miracle pack includes a DVD of Esther and Alinafe's moving story. The DVD shows Alinafe getting her HIV test results, thankfully they are negative - she has a chance of a full life. This is not the case for one in three children born to HIV+ mothers.

"Today 1,600 babies, one every minute, will be born with HIV," said Sion. "Without intervention there is a 35-40 per cent risk of a mother transmitting HIV to her baby. Simple treatment can reduce the risk to 15 per cent and a caesarean birth and decision not to breastfeed, where a safe alternative is available, can reduce the risk of infection to five per cent," said Sion.

One of the ways that Tearfund hope to Work the Miracle is to help mother's like Esther. For many, HIV and Aids still hold a huge social stigma. The first step in reducing the risk of spreading HIV is to get the mothers to go for a test. This is where the work of Tearfund partners is vital.

Eagles are one of Tearfund's church-based partners working in poor communities, including Esther's village, Fombi, in Malawi. Eagles offer support by encouraging women to go for HIV tests, giving them the confidence that, whatever the result, they will not be abandoned, but will receive the support and treatment they need.

"Tearfund want to hold the hand of mothers like Esther. To give them the comfort and support they so desperately need," added Sion.

Tearfund's second step is to encourage the mothers to seek medical attention from the local clinics, where they can be treated. Education is the third step, Tearfund want to work with the local communities, educating the people about the risks of HIV and AIDS. So what can Pembrokeshire people do to help Work A Miracle?

"Tearfund's vision will not happen unless local people like us act," said local media officer, Sharron Hardwick.

"We can organise a fund-raising event from a cake sale to sponsored silence. You could make a giant Christmas card for your church or organisation and charge to sign it, giving the proceeds to Tearfund's appeal. You could pledge £7 a month on a regular basis."

Tearfund suggests that £7 can give a child the chance of a HIV free life. £7 enables Tearfund partners to provide support, advice and education to mothers, as well as giving them access to HIV testing and treatments.

"Pembrokeshire people could give alternative Christmas gifts this year," added Sharron. "Why not spend a little less on your presents and wrap them in red ribbon, write on the tags that this year £7 (or more) has been given to Tearfund's Work a Miracle appeal in their honour, to give a child a chance of a HIV free life.

"Tearfund also have Work a Miracle ribbons which can be ordered from the website and suggested donations are £1 each. What greater gift can we give this Christmas than the miracle of life?"

Tearfund's Work a Miracle pack is available for all, you can get a copy of it by logging on to http://www.tearfund.org">www.tearfund.org or call 0845 355 8355. For a more local contact, call Sharron on 07791 646076.