AIDS WALK raises money, awareness

By Benjamin Chess

For the Daily

Cold winds and threatening clouds yesterday did not deter more than 600 people from walking the streets of downtown Ann Arbor raising money and awareness for AIDS.

Participants in AIDS WALK Michigan, now in its eighth year, began their trek from the Detroit Edison parking lot at East William and South Main streets. Free food, massages and a DJ entertained the crowd as they gathered to walk the 5K course.

Volunteers stationed along the course provided water to walkers and gave away condoms and informational pamphlets to pedestrians, promoting AIDS awareness.

Some of the participants had personal reasons to walk the event.

"I have lost lots of friends and I've dodged a few bullets myself," said a medical worker at the University, who wished to only be identified as P.J. He and five others from the HIV/AIDS Treatment Program at the University gathered pledges from friends and family for AIDS WALK.

Most walkers worked in teams, which competed to acquire the most members and raise the most money.

Sports teams and fraternities from the University also participated in the event.

"It's really a warm atmosphere," said Marcus Collins, a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. "It's really great. We look forward to walking even though it's a dreary day. We're out here for a good cause."

The money raised will be divided among the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project, the HIV/AIDS Resource Center and the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan.

The event typically raises $4,500 each year. It is among the largest fundraisers for each of the organizations.

Local political figures, including Ypsilanti Mayor Cheryl Farmer, Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon and City Councilman Chris Kolb (D-Ward V) helped enthuse the chilly crowd.

"There is no cure to HIV. There are treatments and the treatments are getting better," said Farmer, who said she believes that finding a vaccine will not be the end to the problem because AIDS fundraising will still be necessary to provide the vaccine to everyone in the world who needs it.

Awards were given to the teams and local high schools that raised the most money and had the highest turn-out. The event used to be held in June and was purposely moved to late September to let students get involved.

"It's great that we can now reach into the high schools and colleges," Kolb said.

AIDS walks have been going on for years around Michigan, but it was only three years ago when the Michigan Aids Fund began to coordinate all the separate efforts into an annual statewide event.

AIDS WALK Michigan now organizes walks in a dozen cities, including Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. Each walk is held on the same day.

After the walk, Kolb and Craig Covey, executive director of the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project, announced the individual, team, and high school awards.

Local Ann Arbor software company Baseview Products won both team awards for fundraising and turnout. The company netted $4,109 in pledges.

Huron High School won trophies in the high school category for the most walkers and the most money raised.

"We thank everyone here," Kolb said. "We appreciate the people coming to walk after all these years. It's great."

ELLIE WHITE/Daily

Members of the Michigan women's swimming team participate in the eighth annual AIDS WALK Michigan on South State Street yesterday.