Penn State students will help raise money for the AIDS Project of Centre County this Sunday at the 7th annual 5k AIDS Walk. The walk will begin at 1 p.m. at Central Parklet in downtown State College.

The walk originally became a part of Greek Week festivities to help promote student involvement. Lea Asbell-Swanger, AIDS Walk chair, said the walk was a way to involve students in the effort to make the AIDS issue more prevalent on the Penn State campus.

"It's important that it's not just adults, but a whole town and gown effort," Asbell-Swanger said.

Every year, two honorary chairs are chosen for the AIDS Walk, one from the university and one from the State College community.

"We want to represent both sides of College Ave," Asbell-Swanger said. "We've had the Spaniers and Sue Paternos, but they were all non-students."

This year Ian Rosenberger, former Undergraduate Student Government president, and Leah Struble, a fourth grade State College resident, were chosen. Asbell-Swanger said Rosenberger got involved in the issue as a Penn State Thespian during an AIDS fundraiser called MasquerAIDS his freshman year.

Struble said she became involved seven years ago because her uncle is HIV positive. Last year, Asbell-Swanger said Struble was the highest donor, and this year Struble said she hopes to raise at least $1,500.

So far, Struble said she has raised $1,200 with help from her mom and dad and a "cute little 10-year-old smile."

"I think being involved shows that you care," Struble said. "It's important to volunteer."

Because they are honorary chairs, Rosenberger and Struble will judge the Chariot Race that will be held at 6 tonight on Fraternity Row as part of the Greek Week festivities.

Jane Neitz, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, said fraternities and sororities have been a part of the walk since it began seven years ago.

The money raised in the walk helps to fund educational programs within Centre and Clinton counties to increase AIDS awareness.

"There are people in the community that are living with AIDS, and the more people we can get talking about it and people begin to realize that it is 100 percent preventable, the better," Rosenberger said.

Asbell-Swanger said she agrees the walk will increase AIDS awareness.

"The programs are making people aware and helping people develop correct behavior," Asbell-Swanger said. "It will help them think before they do things."

In past years, between 800 and 1,000 people have participated in the walk, she said. This year, each walker is required to raise $50. Registration for the walk begins at noon.

"I want to encourage as many people as possible to come out on Sunday. It will be only a couple hours, and it's not too hard to raise a couple dollars. It will go a long a way," Rosenberger said.