Rainy AIDS Walk Raises Money For Research, Local Service Groups
Tens of thousands of people with ponchos or umbrellas went through the rain to take part in the 28th annual AIDS Walk New York through Central Park and the Upper West Side. Proceeds from the 6.2-mile walk go to the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) organization, 40 other AIDS service organizations and HIV and AIDS research. It is the largest fundraiser of its kind in the world, raising more than $128 million since 1986.
Participants said while significant progress has been made in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS, the community still needs to be made aware of the virus. People who live with HIV/AIDS said funds raised by the walk over the years have helped improve the quality of their lives.
"When I was diagnosed, it was devastatingly sad. It was something that I didn't really know about," said a man with HIV. "I've been in New York City for almost 17 years now and some of the programs that are benefiting from what we're doing right now help me out on a daily basis. I've been HIV-positive for 24 years, I'm as healthy as I ever was. I credit that to the support that I get and the city organizations like Gay Men's Health Crisis, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, ACT UP, all these different groups are a psychological safety net," said another man with HIV.
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/182341/rainy-aids-walk-raises-money-for-research--local-service-groups
NY1's parent company, Time Warner Cable, was a sponsor of events at today's walk.