Ft. Lauderdale: Thousands to Participate in Florida AIDS Walk 2010—Sunday, March 28th

Funds Raised Benefit AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Broward House, SunServe, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, and the Pride Center at Equality Park.

Walk Also Raises Awareness that 125,000 Floridians are Living with HIV/AIDS; Highlights Need for Increased Prevention, Education and Testing Efforts in the State

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF):

“AHF appreciates this opportunity to join with people from across the state at this year’s Florida AIDS Walk to bring a renewed sense of awareness to the community and help turn the tide of Florida’s AIDS crisis”

What:	Florida AIDS Walk
When:	Sunday, March 28, 2009, Opening Ceremony: 9:30 a.m., Walk Begins: 10:00 a.m.
Where:	Huizenga Plaza, Downtown Ft. Lauderdale
Who:	Mrs. Jeanne White-Ginder, Mother of Ryan White (for whom the Ryan White CARE Act federal funding legislation is named)
	Michael Kahane, Bureau Chief – Southern Region, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
	Other Honored Guests TBD
Contacts:	Mark Bode, Manager, Florida AIDS Walk, [phone]
	Lori Yeghiayan, AHF Associate Director of Communications, [phone]

Thousands of caring individuals from across the state will join together to participate in the Florida AIDS Walk 2010 this Sunday March 28^th in Ft. Lauderdale starting and ending at Huizenga Plaza at 10:00 AM (Opening Ceremonies begin at 9:30 AM). Florida AIDS Walk is a 10k walk (optional 5k) fundraiser to raise awareness about and help reverse the continuing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in South Florida. More information about the Florida AIDS Walk is available at www.floridaAIDSwalk.org.

This year’s Walk will feature a special appearance by Mrs. Jeanne White-Ginder, whose son Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984 at the age of 13. Ryan and his mother fought for his right to attend school, gaining international attention. Ryan was featured on countless television shows and magazine covers and was the subject of a television movie about his life. Ryan White died on April 8, 1990, at the age of 18, just a few months before Congress passed the federal AIDS funding bill that bears his name-the Ryan White CARE (Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency) Act.

Featured performers at the Open Ceremonies include Tracy St. George from 97.9 WRMF, the Ft. Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus and DJ Scott Mann.

“I am deeply inspired by the thousands of participants at the Florida AIDS Walk who have committed themselves to fighting for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventing new infections through education and outreach,” said Michael Kahane, Bureau Chief for AHF’s Southern Region.

Benefiting AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Broward House, SunServe, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center and the Pride Center at Equality Park, one hundred percent of proceeds raised by Florida AIDS Walk 2010 will go toward the expansion of HIV/AIDS testing, education and prevention initiatives in South Florida, and throughout the state. It will also support: GLBT education, advocacy and services; specialized services meeting the needs of the economically disadvantaged, marginalized youth, seniors and people’s of differing abilities; specialized, comprehensive care of children and youth with HIV/AIDS; and improving the lives of individuals living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.

Free HIV testing will be available to all attendees on Sunday, offered out of two of AHF’s mobile HIV testing units. AHF has been conducting a 15-city, cross-state HIV Mobile Testing Tour throughout Florida during the month of March. Having launched in Pensacola in the Northwest and Key West in the Southeast, AHF’s new Magic Johnson “Test Florida” HIV mobile testing unit and its Positive Healthcare mobile medical clinic have each been making their way through Florida offering free testing services. The two mobile units will reunite on Sunday, at Huizenga Plaza to offer free HIV testing at the Walk.

“AHF appreciates this opportunity to join with people from across the state at this year’s Florida AIDS Walk to bring a renewed sense of awareness to the community and help turn the tide of Florida’s AIDS crisis,” said Mr. Kahane. “We are especially pleased to have the AHF/Magic Johnson Testing Unit at this year’s Walk as it was purchased in part with funds raised by Florida AIDS Walk 2009. Together, participants were able to raise over $366,000 for HIV care, testing, and prevention programs, which has enabled AHF to launch this important HIV testing and outreach program in Florida.”

According to statistics released by the Florida Department of Health, Florida ranked third among states in the number of reported AIDS cases in 2008 with 3,960 cases. Florida also ranked third among the 38 states that reported HIV infection in 2008, with 5,165 cases. Approximately 1,039,000–1,185,000 persons are living with HIV infection in the U.S. Florida has consistently reported 10–12% of the national AIDS morbidity and currently accounts for 11% of all persons living with AIDS in the U.S. The Department of Health now estimates that approximately 125,000 persons, or roughly 11.7% of the national total, are currently living with HIV infection in Florida as of the end of 2007.

Principal and major sponsors of the Florida AIDS Walk 2010 are HotSpots! Magazine, Latino Boys Magazine, Edge (edgeonthenet.com), Mark’s List, Sidelines Sports Bar, 97.9 FM WRMF, the Sun-Sentinel, Volunteer Broward, Cardinal Health, Bill’s Wilton Manors, Comcast, Georgie’s Alibi Wilton Manors and Rosie’s Bar and Grill.

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 130,000 individuals in 23 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.

In Florida, AIDS Healthcare Foundation serves more than 15,000 people living with HIV/AIDS through a variety of programs, including Positive Healthcare (a statewide disease management program), Positive Healthcare Managed Care, testing and prevention programs, healthcare centers in Jacksonville, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, and AHF Pharmacies. AHF’s Out of the Closet Thrift Stores in Wilton Manors and Miami at Biscayne and 29^th offers free HIV testing and treatment referral through an AHF Pharmacy built adjacent to the store.