June 5 marked the 25th anniversary of the first published report by the U.S Centers for Disease Control about the worldwide pandemic that would later become known as AIDS.

The report focused on five gay men in Los Angeles who suffered and subsequently died from a rare pneumonia found in patents with failing immune systems. Since that time, approximately 25 million people worldwide have died of HIV/AIDS, and 40.3 million more are known to be infected with HIV.

There are many significant markers in the 25-year history of this disease, too few of them cause for celebration. In recognition of this particular anniversary, many media outlets have produced retrospectives that remind us of the early days of the epidemic, when ignorance-based fear ruled public health, public policy and public opinion.

For those of us who have lived through the past 25 years, these retrospectives have also been painful reminders of all the friends, loved ones and partners we’ve lost. Many of us made heartfelt promises to sick friends that we’d fight for funding, or better public policy, or enhanced research or to increase the services available for people living with HIV and AIDS.

We promised we’d fight for the basic human dignity of people living with AIDS. And, most personally, we promised that we would never forget them.

In so many ways, we’ve seen some of these promises fulfilled. But the struggle to hold on to adequate funding and services remains a constant challenge, even 25 years later.

In the last three years, we have seen the development of a terrible supply/demand problem in our San Diego HIV/AIDS community. There are thousands more people living with HIV/AIDS than ever before, and millions fewer dollars to provide for their core medical, mental health and medication needs.

Over the past three years, there has been a quiet but steady erosion of government funding for people living with HIV/AIDS. This year, San Diego lost another 5 percent of its Ryan White Care Act Title I funds from the federal government. Coupled with funding losses of more than $1.5 million over the past three years, these cuts have been devastating. Today, too many people living with HIV/AIDS in San Diego County struggle to receive even the basic services they need.

For some it has been easy to become complacent – more effective drugs have made better and longer lives for thousands. But a cure still eludes us, and the numbers of those infected continue to rise.

AIDS Walk San Diego is one way we as individuals and groups of friends, family members and co-workers can show people living with HIV/AIDS that we do remember and we do care. Your participation and your fund-raising is one powerful way to help bridge the immense gap left in the wake of these damaging funding cuts.

I know many of you have participated in AIDS Walk San Diego in years past. This year, the need is even greater and the men, women and families struggling to survive have even fewer options. We must reach out to our friends, families, co-workers and neighbors, and ask them to join with us in the walk. Not all of us can conduct research to find a cure or provide direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS, but raising critically-needed funds by participating in AIDS Walk San Diego is one way we can all truly make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

AIDS Walk San Diego will take place on Sunday, Oct. 1, in Balboa Park. For more information or to register a team, call the AIDS Walk office at (619) 692-2077 ext. 246, e-mail info@aidswalksd.org or register online at www.aidswalksd.org.

Please register your team today and begin your fund-raising efforts early. The thousands of men, women and families living with HIV/AIDS in San Diego County are counting on us.

We promised we’d never forget.