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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
Participants from across Auraria came out Sept. 6, to support AIDS services and education at the 21st AIDS Walk Colorado.
The 5k fundraiser for HIV and AIDS wound through Capitol Hill, with separate courses for runners and walkers.
Cheesman Park, where the walk kicked off, was decorated with red balloons and make shift memorials dedicated to victims of the disease.
Sonja Coleman-Harris, leader of the Auraria Health Center fundraising team, has been participating with the event for more than a decade.
"I lost someone who was close to me, so now I am participating in this fundraiser because it is for a great cause, and I also enjoy helping someone who has the disease," Coleman-Harris said.
Coleman-Harris is a certified medical assistant at the Health Center.
She said that at the last count, the health center had raised $2,385. Last year, it raised $9,000 dollars, and their goal this year is $10,000.
The health center will still be collecting donations to meet its goal.
The walk has drawn sponsorship from several well-recognized businesses in the metro area. Charles Schwab, Univision and 5280 Magazine are just a few of the sponsors.
"It is good to see all the corporate sponsorship helping out," Coleman-Harris said.
Each team takes custom T-shirts to represent themselves during the walk. Students from Campus Village came organized as a team named "Chicks and Dicks vs. AIDS."
Molly Byers, a freshman living at the dorms, decided to participate because she wanted to help fund a good cause.
Byers' team consisted of 12 students who raised $50 dollars.
The students' shirts were decorated with phrases such as "no glove, no love, do it right now," or "regret it later."
Another student participating in the AIDS Walk for Ukraine, was looking to reach out to the students at Auraria.
Lerri Atwater had just returned from Ukraine where she worked with students, teaching AIDS education and prevention.
"I was in the Peace Corps, and I traveled to the Ukraine helping educate the young about this disease. They have the highest infection rate in Eastern Europe," Atwater said.
Atwater's work in Ukraine wasn't always easy.
"It was hard to breakthrough the cultural differences. But once I gained their trust, it was pretty easy," he said.
"No one talks about sex, drugs or homosexuality in the Ukraine because it is taboo."
"Now there is no choice. It is too late, now they have to talk about these things," Atwater added.
Alexis Fernandez, a sophomore at Metro, decided she could help out by raising money.
"I raised $75 dollars by asking my friends and family members to sponsor me."
After losing a cousin to AIDS, Fernandez decided to educate herself about the disease.
"I decided to help after doing a research project about AIDS, I want to help them out finding a cure."
Funds raised through the walk support a number of AIDS service and education organizations across the state.
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