SVALC NEWS

20th Annual Walk for AIDS Set for October 18th

August 11, 2009
SAN JOSE, CA---The Silicon Valley AIDS Leadership Center has scheduled the 20th Annual Walk for AIDS to be held Sunday, October 18th at Discovery Meadow in downtown San Jose. This is the largest fundraiser and public awareness event for the HIV/AIDS cause in the community. Proceeds from the walk are granted out to programs in the area that provide services such as HIV testing, case management, legal counsel, prevention and education.

“The Walk for AIDS gives funding to agencies who provide the front line services. It is critical, especially now, when resources are being threatened or cut,” commented Marianne Gallagher who is serving as the honorary chairperson of the event. “This is the foremost opportunity to raise money for people living with HIV/AIDS and everyone’s participation will make a difference.”

Gallagher has been a part of the walk since its inception two decades ago and currently works for one of the agencies who benefits from the event. As supervisor of the Neil A. Christie Living Center, a program of The Health Trust, she works daily with individuals who are HIV positive. Her longstanding participation and support of the walk has earned her the position of honorary chairperson.

“The Walk for AIDS started with a small group of compassionate individuals who wanted to help people living and dying with AIDS,” Gallagher said. “The community responded and a magnificent annual event was born. Today, the walk is still fueled by compassion but there is also a sense of extreme urgency as clients face living longer with the disease but without the resources vital to their health and well being.”

As for Gallagher’s involvement, she testifies “I have witnessed the devastation of this disease and experienced loss on a deeply personal level. The walk is an opportunity to come together as a community to raise funds to help people living with HIV/AIDS, to educate people about the disease and how to prevent further transmission. The walk is the ultimate compassion.”

Sponsors of the event include Cypress Semiconductor, Amtrak, Woodland Park, Metro Newspaper, Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose Downtown Association, The Sainte Claire Hotel, Hobees California Restaurants, Brix Nightclub and NBC Bay Area.


About The Silicon Valley Leadership Center
The Silicon Valley AIDS Leadership Center’s mission is to lead the fight, united with their communities, to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and enhance the lives of affected persons. The organization fulfills this commitment through their community grants program, advocacy efforts and prevention outreach. For more information about the Walk for AIDS or the Center visit www.walkforaids.org or call (408)451-9255.

Download this article in PDF here>

Media Contact:
Dane Dugan
408-451-9255
dane@aidscoalition.org