AIDSWalk to bring togetherness
By Regina Lee
Broadside Staff Writer

 

Broadside File Photo Last fall, GMU had the third largest group of participants at AIDSWalk in Washington, D.C.

With the weather prediction for Sept. 26 sunny and in the 80s, GMU will be participating in its 10th year in the 13th annual AIDSWalk.

The six mile/10K walk is the largest AIDS/HIV fundraiser in the Washington, D.C. area for the Whitman-Walker Clinic.

The clinic provides many services to men, women and children with AIDS/HIV in the northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and Washington, D.C. area. The services include a food bank, medical care, housing, legal services, a "buddy" program and social work.

Besides benefiting the clinic, the walk also raises awareness of the disease.

This year the goal for GMU is to raise over $10,000. All proceeds go to the clinic. In previous years, the GMU team has been the fifth largest team in the D.C. metropolitan area. It has also been among the top 10 fundraising teams by contributing several thousands of dollars.

In its 10 years of participation in the event, the attendance of GMU students, staff and faculty has been up to 400 people. The event is the largest off-campus program that involves GMU students, staff and faculty.

Bringing the GMU community together, the Mason teamwill walk with its banner and shout cheers into its megaphone, said Nikkia Anderson, the GMU AIDSWalk team captain. The team will meet and register at 11 a.m. at the GMU table on the Mall to take a team picture.

AIDSWalk will take place on the Mall from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Ride the orange or blue line metro to the Smithsonian stop.

Dress accordingly with the weather. Wear comfortable shoes for this walk and don't forget to eat before you come. Also, remember your H2O.

For more information about AIDSWalk contact team captain Nikkia Anderson at 993-2900 or check out the Website at http://www.gmu.edu/student/csl/walk.html

Registration is also available at the Website. Donations are welcome for those unable to participate in the event.

HIV/AIDS facts in the DC Metropolitan Area

• D.C. has the highest AIDS rate per 100,000 population in the U.S. -- a rate that is nine times the national average.
• In D.C., the greatest increase in AIDS cases is through heterosexual contact among people of color, women and injection drug users.
• Annual cost of HIV/AIDS medication can reach as high as $15,000.
• Nearly 9,000 people in the Washington metropoilitan area live with AIDS. Another estimated 14,000 to 17,000 people live with HIV.
• 71% are African American (26% above national average).
• 27% are infected through injection drug use.
• Currently in D.C., there are approximately 5,300 people living with AIDS.
• 77% are male (21% female, 1% pediatric).
• 80% are African American (35% above national average).
• 32% are infected through injection drug use.

Northern Virginia

• In Northern Virginia, there are approximately 1,300 people living with AIDS.
• 85% are male (14% female, 1% pediatric).
• 51% are white.
• 40% are African American.

Suburban Maryland

• In suburban Maryland, there are approximately 2,000 people living with AIDS.
• 73% are male (25% female, 2% pediatric).
• 72% are African American (27% above national average).

United States

• In the entire U.S., there are more than 47,000 people living with AIDS.
• 76% are male (23% female, 1% pediatric).
• 45% are African American.
• 20% are Latino.
• 34% are white.
• 24% are infected through injection drug use AIDS was the number one killer of Latinos age 25 through 44 in 1995. (CDC)

l More than 19,000 new people were infected with HIV last year nationwide.

Source: http://www.aidswalkwashington.org/