AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Fun Run, the largest gathering in Arizona to support people living with HIV and raise community awareness, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.
Quick Facts:
- AIDS Walk registration tent, presented by Gilead, highlighting their product, Bitkarvy, and the vendor village open at 1 p.m.
- The walk and run will start at 3 p.m.
- Information and registration forms can be found at www.aidswalkaz.org.
- Registration fees are $20 for students, $35 for individual walkers, $35 for virtual walkers and $45 for runners. Fees include an AIDS Walk shirt and sponsor swag.
- Registration for PAWS for the Cause, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Vodka for Dog People, for walkers bringing their dogs, is $10 and includes a PAWS for the Cause bandana.
- KIDS for the Cause (12 and under) can participate for free, but registration is required and they must be accompanied by an adult. Registration includes and AIDS Walk shirt and Kids for the Cause swag from the AIDS Walk vendor village.
Regina Gazelle Wells, who overcame serious struggles with substance abuse to become a committed trans activist and advocate for trans individuals affected by homelessness, substance abuse and HIV, and Elijah Palles, whose drag stage name is Eddie Broadway and is Mr. Trans USA 2020, are the AIDS Walk Arizona & 5K Fun Run co-chairs.
AIDS Walk Arizona has already raised nearly $130,000 toward its $200,000 goal. All proceeds benefit Aunt Rita’s Foundation’s 14 community partner agencies providing critical HIV services including testing, treatment, behavioral health, housing and prevention, among others.
Participants interested in creating a team or individuals interested in supporting a fundraiser or a participating team, can find details, instructions and information on the website.
For more information about AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Fun Run, visit www.aidswalkaz.org. For more information about Aunt Rita’s Foundation, visit www.auntritas.org.
About Aunt Rita’s Foundation
In our mission to end HIV in Arizona, that quietly began 35 years ago with our first fundraising bake sale, Aunt Rita’s Foundation has granted more than $2 million to 14 partner agencies and continues developing innovative gap-filling educational and HIV prevention and testing programs that complement and support existing critical community-based resources. Partner agencies include The Bill Holt Clinic at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, CAN Community Health, Chicanos Por La Causa Luces Program, Ebony House, HEAL International, HIV Care Directions, Joshua Tree Feeding Program, McDowell Healthcare Clinic, Native Health, one n ten, Southwest Behavioral Health Services, Southwest Center and Terros Health. Aunt Rita’s distributes free Home HIV Test Kits through GetTestedAz.org and provides vouchers for confidential HIV and syphilis tests at 100 Safeway stores and Sonora Quest locations statewide. Aunt Rita’s also created the HIV and Aging Initiative to provide the rapidly aging HIV-positive community with specialized support. Aunt Rita’s signature fund-raising events are AIDS Walk Arizona, Picnic in the Park and RED is the Night. Aunt Rita’s Foundation also works to increase awareness and education about HIV/AIDS statewide through HIVAZ.ORG. For more information, visit www.auntritas.org or call (602) 882-8675.