AU student groups are aiming to meet or exceed last year’s turnout of 400 students for the 24th annual Whitman-Walker Clinic AIDS Walk Washington this year on Oct. 2, according to Liz Bayer, the director of Women’s Initiative’s HIV/AIDS Taskforce.
The “AU Fights AIDS” team has been the largest university team in the walk for four consecutive years running, and last year’s participants raised nearly $15,000, according to Bayer.
Though AU’s campus-wide team is organized by Women’s Initiative, various AU clubs are planning to co-sponsor the team.
The Student Government, the GLBTA Resource Center, Queers and Allies and the Peace and Empowerment Project are a few of the student groups that plan to take part in the event.
SG Secretary Kent Hiebel participated in last year’s AIDS Walk and is eager to take part in the event this year as well.
“It is really great to see the entire AU community joining together and rallying for this cause,” he said. “American is the most politically active campus in D.C., but this walk shows American’s involvement in community service as well.”
According to the Whitman-Walker website, the money raised through the walk funds “primary medical and dental care; mental health and addictions counseling and treatment; HIV education, prevention and testing; legal services; and medical adherence case management” through two different sites in the D.C. area.
The clinic also focuses on supporting the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community members who suffer with AIDS.
Students wishing to sign up for the AU AIDS walk team should visit their website.
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