News

Walk Benefits AIDS Healthcare Foundation & Other Local HIV/AIDS Service
      Organizations, Raises Awareness of Broward County's AIDS Crisis

Source: PRNewsWire.com courtesy of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An exuberant
crowd of over three thousand walkers joined in solidarity today for the
second annual AIDS Walk/Ft. Lauderdale. This year's walk, hosted by Jai
Rodriguez (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) featured a very special
appearance by Grammy- Award winning singer and performing legend, Patti
Labelle, who performed an inspiring rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone"
during the Opening Ceremonies in Huizenga Plaza. The Walk raised $450,000
for vital HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services in Broward County
provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and other community service
organizations. 100% of the proceeds from the Walk will stay in Broward.

"It is my honor to join in solidarity with the communities of South
Florida to help raise awareness and funds for people living with HIV/AIDS,"
said Ms. LaBelle. "I am proud to do my part to help fight this disease
whomever and wherever it strikes, but especially as the numbers of women
living with HIV/AIDS continues to grow-particularly women of color. Rich or
poor, black or white, young or old-HIV/AIDS affects us all and it is my
privilege to add my voice to the chorus of people in Broward who are
committed to fighting this epidemic in their community."

Last year's Walk was the first in Broward County for some years. The
driving force behind the Walk's re-emergence was a study released by the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2006, cementing
South Florida as a major epicenter of the disease in the U.S. with a
sizable increase in new AIDS cases in 2004. Recent data has shown a small
drop in HIV and AIDS cases in the county, largely attributed to effective
education campaigns led by Broward County and local AIDS service
organizations. Though this is a hopeful sign, expanded and sustained
efforts will be needed to combat Broward's AIDS epidemic, as for years the
county has been ranked among the top 10 in the nation for HIV/AIDS cases
per capita.