By Elizabeth M. Mack
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Tallahassee Democrat, Sunday, October 19, 2009 — The amount of support grows every year for the AIDS Walk, said Stephanie Schwartz, president of the Big Bend Cares board of directors.
"Years ago, AIDS was seen as a gay disease, but it's not," she said. "AIDS is a health issue, it's socioeconomic. As a health issue, there's no target group."
In 2008, Big Bend Cares counseled 790 people with HIV and AIDS. Of the 333 women seeking counseling, 86 percent were black. Seventy-percent of the 457 men counseled were black.
Sunday's 19th annual AIDS Walk attracted 600 people to Tom Brown Park and has become the agency's biggest fundraiser. This year's goal of $36,000 was expected to be exceeded by nearly $2,000. This year's walk was supported by a 5-K run for the first time.
"We cannot get tired of caring and fighting alongside those who are infected with AIDS," said the Rev. Mark Byrd of Good Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church. "Many of us here today probably can't say we know someone personally who has died from HIV/AIDS, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist and that people don't die from it every day."
Bianca Williams said although she doesn't know anyone who has the disease, she has been a peer educator on HIV/AIDS since high school. That only makes her feel more obligated to continue to educate people now that she's attending Florida A&M University.
"I feel it's important to educate the No. 1 HBCU (Historically Black College/University) about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves," she said. "It's growing in the African-American community and we need to do something to save ourselves."
Williams was there with the National Council of Negro Women Bethune Committee.
The amount of support grows every year for the AIDS Walk, said Stephanie Schwartz, president of the Big Bend Cares board of directors.
"Years ago, AIDS was seen as a gay disease, but it's not," she said. "AIDS is a health issue, it's socioeconomic. As a health issue, there's no target group."
In 2008, Big Bend Cares counseled 790 people with HIV and AIDS. Of the 333 women seeking counseling, 86 percent were black. Seventy-percent of the 457 men counseled were black.
Sunday's 19th annual AIDS Walk attracted 600 people to Tom Brown Park in has become the agency's biggest fundraiser. This year's goal of $36,000 was expected to be exceeded by nearly $2,000. This year's walk was supported by a 5-K run for the first time.
"We cannot get tired of caring and fighting alongside those who are infected with AIDS," said the Rev. Mark Byrd, of Good Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church. "Many of us here today probably can't say we know someone personally who has died from HIV/AIDS, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist and that people don't die from it every day."
Bianca Williams said although she doesn't know anyone who has the disease, she has been a peer educator on HIV/AIDS since high school. That only makes her feel more obligated to continue to educate people now that she's attending Florida A&M University.
"I feel it's important to educate the No. 1 HBCU (Historically Black College/University) about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves," she said. "It's growing in the African-American community and we need to do something to save ourselves."
Williams was there with the National Council of Negro Women Bethune Committee.
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