One AIDS Walk Down And Two More To Go
Despite overnight storms and a rainy morning on Sunday, September 27, nearly 3,500 people walked in Delaware’s first of three planned AIDS Walks. Funds raised at the AIDS Walk in Wilmington are being tallied and results will be available in the coming days. With nearly 175 registered teams online, the Walks in Rehoboth Beach and Dover on Sunday, October 4 are anticipating a good turnout. There is still plenty of time to register and collect pledges for the remaining AIDS Walks.
The Rehoboth Beach AIDS Walk is excited to announce that RoseColored Glasses, a theatrical production company in Sussex County, will be providing musical entertainment prior to the AIDS Walk in Grove Park on Sunday, October 4, 2009, according to Sussex Walk Coordinator Sharyn Warwick. Registration for the Walk starts at 1:00 PM in Grove Park, with the Walk itself beginning at 2:00 PM. AIDS Walk Delaware is presented by the Delaware HIV Consortium and AIDS Delaware along with partner organizations, Faith Community Partnership and the Ministry of Caring. Assisting again this year in promoting and coordinating the AIDS Walk in Sussex County is Glen Pruitt, Associate Executive Director of the Delaware HIV Consortium.
“We are delighted to have RoseColored Glasses performing in Grove Park during the registration time,” explains Warwick. “They will be playing up-tempo music to inspire our participants to enjoy their brisk 5K walk through Rehoboth Beach.” RoseColored Glasses Artistic Director Dennis Dippary hopes that this year will be the start of a new tradition for the Rehoboth Beach AIDS Walk. “RoseColored Glasses is dedicated to working in the community; giving back to the people who support us. The RCG family has seen first hand the effects HIV has on people, both the infected and their families and friends. It was only natural that we get involved.” Besides performing at the event, RoseColored Glasses formed a walk team and is raising money to support HIV/AIDS services in Delaware.
“We were thrilled to see an enthusiastic group gather for the new Sussex County location of the AIDS Walk in Rehoboth Beach last year,” says Peter Houle, Executive Director of the Delaware HIV Consortium. “We had nearly 1,000 walkers attend both downstate AIDS Walks in 2008 and we hope to have many more join us this year for the state’s largest HIV/AIDS awareness campaign and fund-raiser.” Houle continues, ”Despite effective treatment options the AIDS epidemic is far from over. Every nine and one half minutes someone becomes infected with HIV in the United States and nearly 25% do not know they are HIV positive. These are startling statistics.”
“The Walk is a family and dog friendly event,” comments John Klein, Executive Director, AIDS Delaware. “The Walk will be held rain or shine, so we hope to see a lot of new faces at this great location.”
People interested in registering to walk, collect pledges and/or volunteer can visit www.aidswalkdelaware.org or call 302-652-6776, or call Sussex Walk Coordinator Sharyn Warwick at (302) 684-1328. Registration and festivities begin at 1 pm. AIDS Delaware and Delaware HIV Consortium will also host an AIDS Walk at Silver Lake Park in Dover on October 4. Registration there also begins at 1:00 PM. More information can be found at the same website as above.
The AIDS Walk Delaware Committee thanks this year’s sponsors: Abbott – Exhibit Sponsor, Bank of America, CAMP Rehoboth, Chiquita Brands International – In Kind Sponsor, The City of Wilmington, Club Phred, The News Journal, 93.7 WSTW, Spark, Tibotec Therapeutics, We Work for Health, and Veggie Shack.
This year marks the twenty-third year that an AIDS Walk has been held in Delaware. Originally held each year in Wilmington, the AIDS Walk expanded several years ago to include Walks in Kent and Sussex Counties. Last year’s AIDS Walk in Rehoboth Beach raised more than $30,000 for critically needed HIV/AIDS services in lower Delaware.
