Nearly 6,000 people participated in the annual AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run Sunday to raise $333,000 for charities around the valley that work to educate, prevent or assist people living with HIV/AIDS.
The walk began on Washington at Cesar Chavez Plaza on Washington and First streets and ran about 3.1 miles long. Runners were greeted by volunteers cheering and handing out snacks and water at the end of the race. Farther past the finish line, red and blue balloons were scattered around CityScape and live music played.
Walgreens is the main sponsor of the walk and has already donated $150,000 to the Aunt Rita’s Foundation this time around, said Gary Hedgecoth, a volunteer at the walk.
“There’s a lot of people who have AIDS and need help,” said Paul Dubberke, a representative for Walgreens at the walk. “All the money that we raise goes to organizations that help people with AIDS.”
Today, 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the U.S., according to AIDS.gov. Of those 1.2 million people, 1 in 8 infected with HIV is unaware they carry the disease. In Arizona, over 15,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS, the website said. The AIDS Walk Arizona is one of the ways that people are bringing awareness to the disease.
There are many programs around the valley striving to educate about AIDS, including AIDS Walk Arizona which donates funds to 17 different charities throughout the state. Aunt Rita’s Foundation is one of those charities.
Aunt Rita’s Foundation distributes funds to programs in the valley that work to prevent or assist those living with AIDS/HIV, including Project Hard Hat, an HIV and STD prevention program.
The organization promotes safe sex among gay and bisexual men by education, S.T.D. testing and distributing condoms to night clubs and bars free of charge.
“Project Hard Hat wouldn’t exist without the help of Aunt Rita’s,” Hedgecoth said.
Nancy Elsenheimer said she learned about the effect of the disease in the ’80s. As she was working as a minister at a church, a friend asked her to pay a visit to someone in the hospital. When she arrived it was apparent the person was dying of AIDS.
“He was quarantined, and you had to gown up, and it was just really sad the way it was treated back in the ’80s,” Elsenheimer said.
Elsenheimer has been an AIDS Walk participant for the past 10 years.
“I think it’s very important to raise awareness. AIDS is still a hidden disease; it’s not really talked about,” she said. “There’s still shame involved, but more people learn and know about it.”
Contact the reporter at Meagan.Boudreau@asu.edu
