On September 26, AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium held AIDS Walks at the Wilmington Riverfront and in downtown Rehoboth Beach. Between the two locations, we raised more than $135,000 to provide critically-needed HIV/AIDS services throughout the state. That is really something to celebrate!
It takes many people to make for a successful community event, and that’s true for AIDS Walk Delaware, too. A special thank you goes out to Sharyn Warwick, who as a community member has helped with the AIDS Walk in Sussex County for the past eleven years. Thanks to McCrery and Harra Funeral Homes, Pharm Blue and the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems for exhibiting at our event. For the eleventh year in a row, Jimmy Windsor (Windsor’s Flowers) donated all of the red carnations used at our Memorial Moment. Hugh Fuller and our friends at the Purple Parrot gave us gift certificates to reward Walkers who raised more than $1,000, and at the Rehoboth Walk, we have nine people who did that! Last but not least is Walgreens, who came to the walk and offered free flu shots. They also presented us with a check for $47,135 (see photo) for the red ribbons they sold in August.
CAMP Rehoboth came through in a big way this year. Once again you promoted the Walk through Letters. You provided more than a dozen people to help us the day of the walk, doing everything from working the registration table and passing out bottles of water, to serving as hosts for the AIDS Quilt panel on display at the park. CAMP didn’t just talk the talk; it walked the walk, too! The CAMP Rainbow Walkers, under the direction of Sal Seeley, raised more than $6,800, putting it fourth among the teams raising the most money this year. Half of that money will come right back to CAMP Rehoboth, to support the good work being done with CAMPsafe.
The biggest thank you I saved for last. Thank you to the community, to all of you who walked, to all of you who sponsored walkers, to all of you who continue to care about HIV/AIDS in our world. We couldn’t have done this without you!
Glen C. Pruitt
Rehoboth AIDS Walk Coordinator