Walk for AIDS
August 31, 2006
A PLU student is serving as teams coordinator for this year’s Pierce County AIDS Walk. Senior Erik Husa is again a leader in the event that last year brought 200 PLU students, faculty and staff together to raise $3,500 for awareness and prevention of the disease.
This is the second year in a row that Husa has served as teams coordinator for the event sponsored by the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. The Pierce County AIDS Walk is a 2.6-mile walk through downtown Tacoma that begins and ends at the University of Washington-Tacoma campus.
The foundation hosts the event to raise money and awareness about the disease and prevention. 2006 marks the 15th year of the event. It will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the walk kicking off at 10 a.m.
Twenty-five years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, the disease continues to kill millions worldwide each year. In Washington state, Pierce County has the second highest incidence of AIDS and the fastest growing infection rate, Husa said.
The walk is the foundation’s major fundraiser for the year, Husa said. The money raised supports the programs and services provided to victims of HIV/AIDS in Pierce County, he added. These services include linking victims to services in the community, assisting them in finding affordable housing and providing prevention education and support groups.
This year, Husa is issuing a challenge to the PLU community: increase the number of participants to 500 and raise at least $10,000.
Husa understands it’s a lofty goal, but he believes it’s attainable. He pointed out that the money raised last year coincided with the campaign to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, which raised $11,000.
Teams are in the process of forming right now and 11 PLU teams are currently registered, Husa said. While registration will be available the day of the event, Husa encourages teams and individuals register now at the foundation’s Web site. The site provides fundraising tools, including the capability to email family and friends to ask for support and the ability to donate online using a debit of credit card, Husa explained.
Those interested can register as either an individual, a team captain or join an established team. To learn more about the foundation, the walk and how to participate, visit www.piercecountyaids.org.
The foundation hosts the event to raise money and awareness about the disease and prevention. 2006 marks the 15th year of the event. It will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the walk kicking off at 10 a.m.
Twenty-five years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, the disease continues to kill millions worldwide each year. In Washington state, Pierce County has the second highest incidence of AIDS and the fastest growing infection rate, Husa said.
The walk is the foundation’s major fundraiser for the year, Husa said. The money raised supports the programs and services provided to victims of HIV/AIDS in Pierce County, he added. These services include linking victims to services in the community, assisting them in finding affordable housing and providing prevention education and support groups.
This year, Husa is issuing a challenge to the PLU community: increase the number of participants to 500 and raise at least $10,000.
Husa understands it’s a lofty goal, but he believes it’s attainable. He pointed out that the money raised last year coincided with the campaign to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, which raised $11,000.
Teams are in the process of forming right now and 11 PLU teams are currently registered, Husa said. While registration will be available the day of the event, Husa encourages teams and individuals register now at the foundation’s Web site. The site provides fundraising tools, including the capability to email family and friends to ask for support and the ability to donate online using a debit of credit card, Husa explained.
Those interested can register as either an individual, a team captain or join an established team. To learn more about the foundation, the walk and how to participate, visit www.piercecountyaids.org.