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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.
