It’s the largest one-day HIV/AIDS fund-raising event in San Diego and the largest non-governmental provider of funds for San Diego County HIV/AIDS service organizations, granting essential funding for nearly 30 local service providers. It helps fund prevention and care programs for thousands of San Diego men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, and you are a crucial part of it.

Join us in Balboa Park on Sunday, Sept. 28 for the 19th annual AIDS Walk San Diego, and know your contributions of time, energy and resources help thousands of San Diegans affected by HIV and AIDS. HIV/AIDS continues to be one the biggest global challenges faced by our generation and your participation sends a powerful message that you are willing to be part of the historic fight to stop the spread of this disease.

In 1989, when AIDS Walk began as the Walk for Life, walkers and donors faced blatant discrimination. At the time HIV/AIDS was still a mystery to most people and a great deal of false information was accepted as fact. People were afraid. Very few people and even fewer businesses wanted to be associated with any organization providing HIV/AIDS services.

Nearly 20 years later, a great deal has changed, but AIDS is still with us. Generous sponsors such as Nordstrom help us raise the hundreds of thousands of dollars AIDS Walk provides to local service organizations, but the need for those organizations still grows. We have treatments for HIV/AIDS, but we still have no cure, and infection rates are still high. We no longer read pages and pages of obituaries looking for the names of our friends, but AIDS still upends far too many lives, ending some far too soon.

The progress we’ve made has been supported by thousands of individuals getting involved at whatever level they are able. There are many ways to participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but four of the easiest are to form an AIDS Walk team, ask people to donate, volunteer and get tested.

Teams are the best way to recruit people to participate in AIDS Walk. Getting more people to directly participate in AIDS Walk helps raise more funds for people living with HIV/AIDS in our community. For information on forming a team, visit the AIDS Walk San Diego Web site at www.aidswalksd.org.

Don’t be afraid to ask. Most people say they would give if asked. Chances are that your friends and family really care about people living with HIV/AIDS and will want to help. Use your AIDS Walk Web page to generate excitement about your fund-raising efforts.

Even if you’re not walking or running, you can still be part of AIDS Walk. Hundreds of volunteers are needed before, during and after AIDS Walk. Volunteer opportunities exist during the day, evening and on weekends from now until the day of the event (and after). To prepare for the event, volunteers help with mailings, canvassing, phone banking, data entry, etc. An estimated 600 volunteers are also needed the day of the walk for sign-in, route monitors, water stops and more.

Volunteers who wish to fund-raise are encouraged to do so and will receive full credit for completing the AIDS Walk by lending their energy and talents at the event. To volunteer, contact Billy Taylor at 619.291.WALK (9255), ext. 2, or btaylor@thecentersd.org.

Of the one million Americans living with HIV/AIDS, as many as 250,000 do not know they are infected. Know your status by getting an HIV test at any of the county’s free and anonymous HIV testing sites. Knowledge is half the battle! For information on where to get tested, visit the AIDS Walk San Diego Web site at www.aidswalksd.org.

The fight against HIV/AIDS has long been led by the GLBT community. It’s your help that has brought us this far and your help that will help us to one day conquer the disease.