Florida AIDS Walk ~ Saturday, February 12, 2005
HIV Tampa Bay Owner/Webmaster (StPeteSean)
Tampa, FL - The holidays are a perfect time to start recruiting the
support of family, friends and co-workers for The AIDS Institute's
(TAI) annual walk-a-thon Florida AIDS Walk: Have a Heart, Walk for
AIDS!
Set for Saturday, February 12, 2005, at Al Lopez Park, Tampa, Florida,
the event is designed to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and funds ensuring
The AIDS Institute has the resources to continue to promote action for
social change through public policy research, advocacy and community
education.
"We're thrilled to be able to bring this event to the community,"
notes Dr. Gene Copello, executive director of The AIDS Institute.
"The tie-in to Valentine's Day is undeniable in the tagline for this
event and we hope it encourages the community to look at HIV/AIDS with
new eyes and an open heart."
The two+ mile walk-a-thon begins with registration at 9:00 a.m., at Al
Lopez Park, 4810 Himes Avenue, Tampa. The morning event features:
Y Opening and closing ceremonies, including prizes for top
fundraisers!
Y Refreshments - Starbucks Coffee Company and more!
Y Entertainment - WSJT Smooth Jazz 94.1 FM, UPN 44 Chatterbus
and mascots
Y Children's activity area
Y Community Health Fair and MORE!
According to TAI Board Member Robin Kurtzman, "This is a fun,
family-friendly day. But make no mistake - we have a purpose - to
raise awareness about the current epidemic in Florida, the US and
across the globe, and to raise funds." She continues, "Now more
than ever we need to make sure we have the resources available to
continue educating individuals, community leaders, elected officials
and leaders of other nations. We have the power to shape how
communities and governments respond to AIDS and healthcare issues in
general, but we need the support of individuals and organizations
throughout Florida and the nation help to make that happen. So, this
Valentine's weekend, Have a Heart and Walk for AIDS!"
Statistics and research reveal that:
· 46 million children, women and men globally are living with
HIV/AIDS
· AIDS is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide
· 14 million children around the world, including the US, have
been orphaned by AIDS
· Nearly one million Americans are now living with HIV/AIDS
· In the US, 51% of the nearly 44,000 annual new HIV
infections occur in persons under the age of 25 years
· Florida is 2nd in the nation for pediatric AIDS cases
· Florida is 3rd nationally for total AIDS cases
Sponsors for Florida AIDS Walk: Have and Heart, Walk for AIDS include
(represents sponsorships at time of dissemination): UPN 44 WTOG-TV,
WSJT Smooth Jazz 94.1 FM, Starbucks Coffee Company, Queertampa.com,
Unipharm Institutional Pharmacy, the Division of Infectious Diseases
and Tropical Medicine at the University of South Florida (USF), Tampa
Bay Performing Arts Center, GTE Federal Credit Union, Catalina
Marketing Charitable Foundation, MAC AIDS Fund/Cosmetics, Antonio's
Pasta Grille.
For sponsorship information, and to form a Florida AIDS Walk team,
please contact The AIDS Institute at 813-974-4892, or via email at
TheAIDSI...@aol.com.
For more information on The AIDS Institute and to become involved in
AIDS advocacy work, please contact TAI at: (813) 974-2598, or by email
at: In...@theaidsinstitute.org