On Sunday, Oct. 15, the 31st Annual AIDS Walk Philly takes place along Martin Luther King Drive, beginning at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Participants can choose to run or walk the AIDS Fund- produced 5K, which raises funds and awareness for those living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia region.
According to the Philadelphia Department of Health, there are 30,000 people living with HIV/AIDS here (three times the national average), so the cause certainly hits close to home.
“AIDS Fund is striving to reach zero stigma, zero new infections and zero deaths in all the work we do,” says AIDS Fund Executive Director Robb Reichard. “I am particularly moved by the number of people AIDS Fund has helped with small grants that assist them through unforeseen financial difficulties that may interfere with their effective health management.”
Since 1987, AIDS Walk Philly has raised $17 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In addition to the 5K, the AIDS Memorial Quilt will also be displayed at the event. Each of its 48,000 multi-colored panels represent the life of a person lost to AIDS. According to their website, it’s the largest community art project in the world.
For more information and to register, visit aidswalkphilly.org.
If you go:
AIDS Walk Philly
Sunday, Oct. 15
7:30 a.m., Run
9 a.m., Walk
Registration required
aidswalkphilly.org
