31st Annual AIDS Walk Philly Holds Kick-Off Event for Emergency Financial Assistance for PLWHAs

On Friday, September 22, the AIDS Fund will kick off awareness in preparation for their 31st Annual AIDS Walk & Run Philly 5K. AIDS Fund Executive Director Robb Reichard will discuss how funds from AIDS Walk Philly go to assist individuals living with HIV in emergency situations.�

The accompanying display, "1981-Until It's Over..." AIDS Timeline,�a large text and photographic timeline of over 35 years of HIV/AIDS history, will bring stark visuals and awareness to Rittenhouse Square.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has evolved over the last 30 years, so AIDS Fund has evolved its mission to create an even greater impact on the lives of those living with HIV disease in our community. Beginning in 2017, AIDS Fund started providing support to the most vulnerable people in our community living with HIV by providing emergency financial assistance for critical life needs.

Advances in treatment and new prevention strategies have now made "Getting to Zero" -- zero new infections, zero deaths, zero stigmas -- an achievable goal!

Your participation is critical to increasing awareness, fighting stigma, and raising funds to support the most vulnerable people living with HIV disease in the greater Philadelphia region and "Getting to Zero." Getting to zero will require the efforts of the entire community. Please join us and thousands of others committed to getting to zero by participating in�AIDS Walk/Run Philly 5K.�

For 31 years, AIDS Walk Philly has been raising awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS services in the Greater Philadelphia Region, and on Sunday, October 15, 2017, the 31st Annual AIDS Walk/Run Philly 5K continues the fight. There are nearly 30,000 people living with HIV in the Greater Philadelphia Region, according to the Philadelphia Department of Health.

The funds raised from donations, sponsorships, and participation will remain in the region, which has a new infection rate three times greater than the national average. Funds raised at AIDS Walk Philly help those most vulnerable as AIDS Fund works toward zero stigma, zero new infections, and zero deaths.

The 31st Annual AIDS Walk Philly is sponsored by Merck, Gilead, Medi-Dose�/EPS�, Univest, Frito-Lay, PGN, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.

AIDS Fund provides emergency financial assistance to people living with HIV disease in the Greater Philadelphia region while providing education and increasing public awareness of HIV/AIDS issues. To support these efforts, AIDS Fund produces a variety of fundraising and awareness programs throughout the year, including AIDS Walk Philly, AIDS Run Philly, GayBINGO, Black-Tie GayBINGO, and Workplace Giving Campaigns.

AIDS Fund is also the Philadelphia affiliate of The Names Project, curating panels of The AIDS Memorial Quilt for a local audience.

The emergency funding event will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 22 at the corner of 18th & Walnut Streets, at the entrance to Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.

To register as a walker, runner or volunteer, visit http://www.aidswalkphilly.org/login

For more information, call 215-731-9255 or visit www.aidswalkphilly.org