Ryan Lewis creates nonprofit after revealing his mom is HIV-positive

SEATTLE, April 24 (UPI) -- Ryan Lewis has founded nonprofit 30/30 Project after revealing his mom, Julie Lewis, is HIV-positive.

The 26-year-old DJ and music producer revealed his mom's illness in a blog post Tuesday. Julie contracted the virus from a blood transfusion in 1984, and has lived for thirty years with the disease, despite a dire prognosis.

"To honor the thirty years my mom has been a survivor, our family is raising funds to build health centers worldwide," Ryan writes. "We're calling it the 30/30 Project."

30/30's first goal is to raise $100,000 to build a health care center in Malawi. The nonprofit has already raised almost $45,000, and hopes to open several clinics in Kenya at a later date.

"I never thought that 30 years later, I would be sitting here talking to you," Julie says. "I want to do something big. The 30/30 Project is that big idea."