BOSTON—Registration is now open for the 32nd annual AIDS Walk & Run Boston, which will take place Sunday, June 4, 2017 at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade. The event regularly draws thousands of participants, making it AIDS Action Committee’s largest annual fundraiser. The Walk is 4.85 miles. The 5K Run is a competitive, timed event fully sanctioned by the USA Track & Field Association.
The AIDS Walk & Run Boston will begin and end at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade. Registration and check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. After opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., the 5K Run begins at 9:50 a.m. and the Walk sets off at 10 a.m. WCVB-TV Eye Opener Newscaster Randy Price will emcee the event, which also includes a Wellness Festival, presented by Whole Foods Market, a post-walk celebration of healthy living.
Participants can register for the AIDS Walk & Run Boston at www.aidswalkboston.org. There is neither a registration fee nor a minimum fundraising requirement to participate in the Walk. There is a $35 registration fee for the 5K Run.
AIDS Action expects to raise approximately $1 million from the event.
“We’re working hard to get to zero new HIV infections in Massachusetts, and we’re making progress,” said AIDS Action Executive Director Carl Sciortino. “The money raised by the AIDS Walk and 5K Run is critical to those efforts. The public awareness raised by the event is as well. About 700 people a year in Massachusetts are newly diagnosed with HIV, and will not get to zero without additional outreach and prevention efforts, especially in educating those at risk about PrEP.”
Corporate sponsors of this year’s AIDS Walk & Run Boston include The TJX Companies, Inc., Macy’s, Whole Foods Market, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Walgreens, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Facebook, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Merck, Converse, Eastern Bank, Gilead Sciences, Abt Associates, EMD Serono, Partners Healthcare, Patriot Care, CamCare, Neighborhood Health Plan, ViiV Healthcare, Planned Parenthood, Pfizer, Inc., and JetBlue. In addition to WCVB-TV, this year’s media sponsors are Kiss 108, JAM’N 94.5, 101.7 The Bull, and Yelp.
Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Keith Orr at 617-450-1210
AIDS Action will support AIDS Walk & Run Boston with a robust social media outreach and fundraising plan. Walkers can fundraise through their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Follow @AIDSWalkBoston and the hashtag #AIDSWALKBOSTON for information about HIV/AIDS and the AIDS Walk & Run Boston.
Facts About HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts
–Between 2000 and 2014, the number of people living HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts increased 56%, placing substantial demands on existing prevention and treatment programs.
–Blacks make up only 6% of the state’s population, but they comprise 30% of those living with HIV/AIDS.
–Hispanics make up only 10% of the state’s population, but they comprise 25% of those living with HIV/AIDS.
–The proportion of new HIV infection diagnoses among gay and bisexual men increased from 38% in 2005 to 46% in 2014.
About AIDS Walk Boston & 5K Run
The AIDS Walk was first held in 1986 and is one of the first fundraising walks to be introduced in Boston, as well as the country. The 5K Run was added to open up fundraising to runners. Historically AAC’s largest fundraising event, it has raised over $39 million for programs and services to support those living with and at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS.
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts is the state’s leading provider of prevention and wellness services for people living with and at risk of HIV/AIDS. AIDS Action works to stop the epidemic by eliminating new infections; maximizing healthier outcomes of those infected and at risk; and tackling the root causes of HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1983, AIDS Action is New England’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization, advocating for the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS by educating the public and health professionals about HIV prevention and care; and promoting fair and effective HIV/AIDS policy at the city, state, and federal levels. In 2013, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts entered into a strategic partnership with Fenway Health, allowing both organizations to improve delivery of care and services across the state and beyond.
[From a News Release]
