September 24, 2016 marks the 30th Anniversary of AIDS Walk Delaware. In 1986, Snapple was new, ‘Aliens’ was the number one movie, and Haley’s Comet streaked across the sky. That year, the U.S. Surgeon General published the government’s first major statement on HIV prevention; Cleve Jones created the first panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt; and the FDA had yet to approve any drugs for the treatment of AIDS.
Fast forward to 2016 and AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium, partners in AIDS Walk, are ready to do something we couldn’t 30 years ago: Launch the Walk website!
AIDSWalkDelaware.org is now open for team captains, walkers, and volunteers to register. Although the Walk doesn’t take place until September, get a summertime jump on fundraising. Our goal this year is $130,000.
A lot has changed in 30 years: HIV/AIDS is now a manageable illness, with a host of medications allowing people to live longer, healthier lives. What hasn’t changed is that people are still getting HIV, more than 50,000 every year. And people living with HIV/AIDS still need services that are funded by AIDS Walk Delaware.
AIDS Walk Delaware is the state’s largest annual HIV/AIDS public awareness and fundraising event. The Walk takes place in two locations on the same day, September 24, at Dravo Plaza at Riverfront Wilmington and Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. The Walk attracts over 1,000 participants and volunteers.
Fundraising helps support services to more than 3,400 people living with HIV/AIDS in Delaware. These services include case management, housing assistance, food assistance, counseling, prevention outreach, and education, and other support services. We also offer free, confidential HIV testing.
Iris A. McKenney
Manager AIDS Delaware