More than $600,000 was raised for HIV/AIDS research, treatment and prevention when the 12th annual AIDS Walk Wisconsin made its debut in Madison Saturday.
The fund-raising walk drew more than 4,000 students and community members.
A number of other universities from around the state were also represented in the event.
'It's a good cause,' said Jesse Fink, a UW-Stevens Point student and representative of the Gay/Straight Alliance. 'Although some people may not be directly affected by the disease, we're here to show our support for those who are.'
The 10K walk, which began at Brittingham Park, was rerouted due to the rescheduled Badger football game.
The opening ceremonies featured several guest speakers, including Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, Madison Mayor Sue Bauman and Roxanne Young-Dotson, a woman living with AIDS.
Baldwin spoke of the problem of an increasing number of AIDS infections in the United States.
'Medical science has been forging ahead. ... Yet AIDS cases were up 10 percent and AIDS deaths were up 11 percent,' Baldwin said. 'These are the first such increases in years. The awareness that you raise is needed.'
Although this was the first AIDS Walk in Madison, the event has taken place for the past 11 years in Milwaukee.
According to Stuart Kipnis, development coordinator for the Madison AIDS Network, the choice to come to Madison was not only to utilize the large student population but also to bring forth the problem of HIV and AIDS to another city.
'This type of walk is great for the object of prevention, to show that HIV and AIDS is still a major disease,' he said.
Participants said the Madison location for the walk would increase participation for those who were not able to travel to Milwaukee.
'I've participated in the Milwaukee event for many years,' said Brett Brasher, a resident of Stoughton, Wis. 'I'm hoping that people who may have a difficulty making it from the western part of the state to Milwaukee can come here and participate ... to show their support for people with AIDS.'
The money raised will be distributed to the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin and the AIDS network, as well as 15 other AIDS organizations including, Camp Heartland and the UW Hospital HIV/AIDS clinic. Also, a portion of the funds will be directly donated to the American Red Cross to help in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C0.
