Those are only a few examples of the lives touched by Nashville CARES, a charitable organization which educates more than 45,000 in HIV prevention and providecompassionate support services to 2,400 men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS in 17 counties of Middle Tennessee.
With the group's largest annual fundraiser drawing near, now is the time to start making plans to participate and help impact more lives across Middle Tennessee.
The Nashville CARES AIDS Walk takes place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville.
This year, AIDS walkers will share the park and the route with two other walks that day: Community Nashville's Walk as One, and the Happy Tales Humane Pet Stroll. The groups are working together to save money and stage a great event offering pancakes ($5/person), stage entertainment, kids and family activities, and an expanded Community Health and Wellness Fair.
Fundraising is separate for each agency with all AIDS Walk proceeds benefiting Nashville CARES.
| What you can do Visit nashvilleAIDSwalk.com and donate to the Nashville CARES AIDS Walk. Register yourself or start a team. Ask a friend to give and invite a colleague to check out the Web site. Support the local businesses who have promised to donate to the Walk. |
Several businesses have already held fundraisers to donate to the AIDS Walk including Ashley Furniture Homestore which gave nearly $1,000 to CARES raised during wine-tasting evening sales on Aug. 4 at three locations (Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Madison-Rivergate).
Others have begun an ongoing effort to support the Walk through the end of the year. Brady Mills Graphics has promised to donate 10 percent of its business to the AIDS Walk through Dec. 3. Owner Brady Mills made the commitment in order to help Nashville CARES continue providing HIV prevention education.
Tim Harkum and his friends at Stirrup Nashville are fundraising for the AIDS Walk every day they're open. Check stirrupnashville.com for hours – then tell the bartender you want to give to the AIDS Walk.
More than 100 teams are listed on the AIDS Walk Web site and ranked in order by money raised. More than $14,000 is already reported to have been raised by the teams. The Christ Church Cathedral CARES team in first place having already raised $4,950 according to the site. The team's goal is $10,000.
Visit nashvilleAIDSwalk.com for more information, to make a donation or to see a ranking of teams based on money earned so far.