Hear Philly: Philadelphia's AIDS Walk Returns, Raising Awareness Throughout The City
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia AIDS 5k walk and run will return to the streets of Philadelphia on October 18th, raising money and awareness for the epidemic, one step at a time.
The walk started in 1987 as volunteers gathered in the streets for the cities first AIDS walk-a -thon. Nearly 300 people attended the walk raising roughly 33,000 dollars. Since then, the walk has transpired into the regions largest annual HIV/AIDS public awareness and fundraising event with thousands of walkers each year.
In addition to walking for awareness, the 5k walk/run also focuses on remembering and celebrating the lives of the individuals who lost their life to the disease through an AIDS memorial quilt.
The 44,000 panel quilt will line the participant's path, each panel memorializing the life of a person lost their life to AIDS.
Robb Reichard, Executive Director of the AIDS Fund, says the individual panels also serve as a reminder that the AIDS epidemic still exists.
"The quilt is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about the epidemic, but most importantly to honor and memorialize those we've lost to the epidemic," says Reichard.
The 3-foot by 6-foot panels are made by loved ones and reflect the individual they are memorizing.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimates someone in the United States dies from a complication due to AIDS every 15 minutes.
Throughout the day on October 18th, the AIDS Fund and partnering organizations will also be offering free rapid HIV test. These days, Reichard encourages everyone to get tested.
"Get the test, get the results in 10 minutes and know your HIV status."
The run begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk will follow at 9:00 a.m. both will kickoff at Eakins Oval at the doorstep of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
You can sign up for the walk/run at aidswalkphilly.org or www.aidsrunphilly.org
Participants must raise a minimum of 50 dollars to receive a t-shirt; walkers who raise 250 dollars will receive a t-shirt and a pair of AIDS Walk Philly sunglasses. A '500 Club' sweatshirt will be given to participants who raise 500 dollars, and people who raise 1000 dollars or more will receive an AIDS Walk Philly jacket.
Over the 29 years, Reichard says the AIDS Fund has raised millions of dollars for the epidemic.
"All funds raised stay here in the community to raise awareness about the epidemic and provide services for friends, family, and neighbors living with HIV disease."
Throughout the year the AIDS Fund conducts a variety of programs to increase public awareness about the HIV epidemic in Philadelphia. In addition, the AIDS Fund's grant program supports partner organizations in the area that provide prevention education, counseling, testing, and care services for people living with HIV.
