Northwest Ohio AIDS Walk to raise AIDS awareness

Every 9½ minutes, someone is infected with HIV in the United States, with over 900 people known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Northwest Ohio alone.  In their continuing mission to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS within the Toledo-Lucas County area, the Toledo office of AIDS Resource Center Ohio will host the Northwest Ohio AIDS Walk 2009 presented by The Toledo Blade on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at International Park in Toledo.

“We have been faced by a perplexing dilemma,” says Bill Hardy, Executive Director of AIDS Resource Center Ohio.  “There are still misconceptions and stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and we need to re-educate the public.  The Walk will serve several purposes including education and awareness.”

Three honorary chairpersons have been named for the Northwest Ohio AIDS Walk to benefit AIDS Resource Center Ohio including Honorable Louis P. Escobar, former President and At-Large Councilman of the City of Toledo and board member of AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Honorable Sandy Isenberg, former President and Commissioner of Lucas County and former chairperson of the Lucas County Democratic Party, and John C. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Toledo.

 “The AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s Northwest Ohio AIDS Walk is first and foremost designed to raise awareness that there is still no cure and no preventative vaccine for HIV/AIDS,” states Escobar.  “Furthermore, the AIDS Walk will help us bring together people from our vast and diverse community to help raise needed support for HIV/AIDS Care, Prevention and Testing,” Escobar continues.

“We are unfortunately at a place in history where we need to remind people that while modern medications have made living with HIV/AIDS easier than 20 years ago, people still die from this disease every day.” concludes Escobar.  

The Northwest Ohio AIDS Walk is a family friendly, wheelchair accessible event. Participants will enjoy live music and entertainment, children’s area, team photos and much more!

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary, AIDS Resource Center Ohio is a non-profit community-based organization whose mission is to provides services to those infected, affected and at risk of HIV/AIDS.  To this end, they provide comprehensive support services, HIV testing & counseling, prevention education, linkage to care and advocacy.

Registration and pledges can be made on the Walk website www.arcohio.dojiggy.com or by calling 419-244-9444.  All money raised from the Walk will stay in Northwest Ohio and assist in providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS services in our community.