AIDS Walk Arizona set for Oct. 23 raises money, fights rising infection rate
HIV and AIDS cases have been on the rise in Arizona, and although they are treatable, they don’t have cures. Aunt Rita’s Foundation’s 2016 AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run raises funds for local HIV and AIDS organizations and brings awareness about the virus and disease.
The Oct. 23 walk is open to people of different ages and pets.
Glen Spencer, executive director for Aunt Rita’s, hopes the walk encourages open dialogue between youth and their family members about topics such as sexually-transmitted infections.
“We want parents to have conversations with kids about protecting themselves. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen in the school systems due to some limitations there,” Spencer said.
The walk and run start and end at Third Avenue and Washington Street. The route takes participants through downtown Phoenix, toward the Arizona Capitol Museum and back.
This year, the event has expanded with the addition of a beer garden, food trucks, a vendor village with healthcare exhibitors and live music after the walk.
Local blues bands the Sugar Thieves and Sistahs Too will perform for audiences at the post-walk festival.
This year, U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego will serve as the walk’s honorary chair.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there were 762 new HIV cases in Arizona in 2014.
Young people under 30 and minority populations have a higher risk of getting infected.
Spencer said with the rising number of cases, it has become more important than ever to create public awareness around HIV and AIDS.
“There’s a perception we are battling in the HIV arena that HIV is not that big of a deal anymore or even has been cured. Sadly, the truth is much different,” Spencer said. “I think people have become complacent, and young people’s perception is this is a disease of the baby boomer generation and not of their generation. So, we’re doing what we can to keep HIV and AIDS in the community consciousness and remind them that this remains a serious health issue.”
The fundraising goal for the 2016 walk is $400,0000. Money raised is divided between 16 partnering agencies, which assist people living with HIV and AIDS or provide prevention services. Since 2009, Aunt Rita’s has given partnering agencies over $1.2 million.
Aunt Rita’s brought back the Phoenix area AIDS walk in 2008. Before that, AIDS Project Arizona had put on the original AIDS walk from 1987 to 2003, the year the organization closed.
A diverse community of people with HIV and AIDS, friends, family members and community supporters take part in the walk. This year, participants can self-identity as people living with HIV and AIDS with “I’m a Fighter” T-shirts.
“We hope it will help to destigmatize HIV and help people to be more open about living with this disease and not being afraid to talk about it and not being afraid to acknowledge it," Spencer said.
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Adult, children and dog participants often raise money before the walk through fashion parties; bake sales; in-kind business donations; drag brunches; bingo nights; donations from colleagues, friends and family members and AIDS walk pages.
Two longtime team captains, drag queen Barbra Seville of Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 and Barb Eldridge of Just a Mom’s Team Rychard, are acting as this year’s co-chairs.
For the last eight years, Barbra Seville, aka Richard Stevens, has been gathering together teams of 100 people for the walk. Many team members have been involved five or more years.
Stevens’ team is known for their themed T-shirts, which they sell to raise money for the walk. This year’s T-shirts have a Pokémon theme.
Eldridge’s team comes from Fountain Hills to do the walk. The team captain strives to not only create awareness locally but get more parents involved.
“It helps to build a good support system, letting people know that there are people out there to help them because it’s devastating to be infected by this and to be affected by this,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge started doing the walk to honor the memory of her son Rychard, who died in 2004 from AIDS.
“I made him a silent promise from my heart that I would try to make a difference and I’ve done everything I can to do that,” Eldridge said.
For Jimmy Thomason, team captain for the Bank of America team, the walk has personal meaning.
Thomason has been living with HIV since 2005. Following his diagnosis, he went through a darker period, suffering from depression and substance abuse issues. Doing the walk for the last 6 years and volunteering with local HIV organizations have been life-changing for him.
“When I was younger, I had a lot of shame with being gay and being HIV positive. Now, if there is any way I can help others to be proud of who they are and deal with any struggles they have in a positive way, that’s really my goal,” Thomason said.
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AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run
When: 7 a.m. -9:30 a.m. registration. 8:10-9:00 a.m. opening ceremony. 9 a.m. run kickoff. 9:15 a.m. walk kickoff. 9:30-1 p.m. beer garden open. Sunday, October 23.
Where: Third Avenue and Washington Street. Parking available at Wells Fargo parking garage, 66 N. 1st Ave., Phoenix.
Admission: $35 for adult walkers, $15 for student walkers, $10 for dogs, children 12 and under free, $50 adult registration for runners, $20 pit crew, $5 per car for parking in garage.
Details: 602-882-8675. auntritasevents.org.