Here in Toronto the CN Tower will be lit red again for World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day.
World AIDS day was created to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis of HIV/AIDS and remember those who have lost the battle with the disease and support those who are living with it. More than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
To commemorate World AIDS Day, I thought I would repost the piece I wrote on the Toronto AIDS Walk from back in September.
For more information on World AIDS Day and HIV/AIDS, have a look at their website here: World AIDS Day Website
The Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life Toronto was held on Sunday September 25, 2011.
Again this year your humble blogger volunteered with the Finance Group and worked selling drink tickets again (pop/water $2.00, beer $5.00, premium beer/wine $6.00).
Which is an odd job choice for me since I’m so bad at math.
Still, it was great to see so many friends and Gay Groom readers drop by to say ‘hi’… actually, the fact that it was the only place that they could get a beer may have had something to do with why so many of you came by…
But I’m glad you did!
The walk was again a success and we surpassed last year’s total raising a grand total of $430,000. Which is great since this year it was in direct competition with Toronto’s “Word on the Street”, the huge book festival just a few blocks away.
“Over 1,100 registered walkers and 350 volunteers helped make this year a great success under sunny skies in downtown Toronto,” said Hamal Docter, Co-Chair of the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life Toronto. “It was great to see a broad representation of Toronto – people of all walks of life and backgrounds – at this year’s event coming together to support ACT’s incredible work.”
Funds raised will support a range of activities at ACT, including health promotion and HIV prevention programs, as well as support services for people living with, affected by and at risk for HIV/AIDS. The Walk not only raises funds, but awareness about HIV/AIDS. And, sadly, we still need AIDS awareness.
In Toronto:
- 1 in 3 new HIV diagnoses are among youth under 30
- 1 in 5 gay men live with HIV
- 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses are among women
Donations are still being accepted at www.aidswalktoronto.ca.
And a special thanks to whomever it was I must have shortchanged since my cash box was a couple of bucks more than it should have been at the end of the day.
Ah well… all for a good cause.
Jeffrey, The Gay Groom
Behind the ticket counter - Jeffrey volunteering at the AIDS Walk.
