Sponsors gear up for second annual AIDS Walk in April

The AIDS Project sponsored a fund-raiser Saturday at Sam's Club on Benner Pike to promote the Second Annual Red Ribbon AIDS Walk, to be held April 18.

Last year's walk helped raise about $35,000 and had about 500 participants, said Kathleen Maroney, executive director of the AIDS Project.

Maroney expects the number of participants in this year's walk to increase to more than $1,000.

Registration will begin at 11 a.m. and the walk will begin at 1 p.m.

The walk will begin at Foster and Allen streets, proceed to Beaver Avenue, proceed up Shortlidge Road to Curtin Road, and then return to Atherton Street.

All proceeds will benefit The AIDS Project, which is a "grassroots, free-standing organization dedicated to serving people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS" that educates and promotes a message of risk reduction, said Bryan Gross, an AIDS Project intern.

The AIDS Project uses money to provide a variety of services including housing subsidies, client services, case management, support groups and an education task force to those afflicted with HIV and AIDS in Centre and Clinton counties, Maroney said.

For more information, contact The AIDS Project at 315 S. Allen St., Suite 116, or call 234-7087.

-- by Jonathan Hayes