San Francisco AIDS Walk Takes On Special Meaning After Researchers Killed On Malaysia Flight 17
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Over 20,000 people participated in Sunday's AIDS Walk in San Francisco, which took on special meaning just days after a Malaysia Airlines flight carrying AIDS researchers was shot down over Ukraine.
It was the 27th annual AIDS Walk in San Francisco, a 6.2-mile journey through Golden Gate Park to raise money for research.
Six prominent researchers in the AIDS community were remembered after being killed in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tragedy.
"We dedicate our efforts today to them. For their enormous contributions to ending this epidemic, and to the vision of social justice they sought to advance," Project Inform Director Dana Van Gorder said.
"We can feel it even here in SF," AIDS Walk SF Organizer Sarah Murray said.
Organizers raised $2.5 million during last year's walk, and hoped to raise even more this year, with funds going to over thirty Bay Area AIDS organizations working to wipe out the disease.
AIDS Walk is the world's largest fundraiser for HIV/AIDS research and education.