AIDS Walk Delaware to step off Sept. 17

AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium will jointly present AIDS Walk Delaware, an in-person event with walkers stepping off at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach, as well as at Brandywine Park in Wilmington. Check-in begins at 9 a.m.

This year’s theme is Step Up, Step Out: Remove Stigma, Eliminate HIV, Improve Lives. The walk strives to advance HIV awareness, reduce stigma, and endorse HIV-informed community health for all Delawareans

To register, donate and collect donations, walkers and those who simply want to fundraise without attending in person may go to AIDSWalkDelaware.org. Walking is free, and walkers meeting a $30 goal will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Anyone with a Facebook account can encourage walkers with cheerful comments on their fundraising pages.

The walk is the state’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness event; it has historically attracted more than 600 participants and volunteers. The funds raised help provide free HIV testing, case management services, HIV-specific mental health counseling, HIV education and prevention programs, and housing services.

Currently, there are 3,791 people in Delaware living with HIV, and about half of them are in case management care. Delaware is in the top third of states with the highest HIV infection rates per capita.

In 2021, nearly 40% of all newly diagnosed HIV cases occurred among people under age 30. People in the 30-39 age group make up 25%. In 2021, the Black/African American population was disproportionately impacted with almost 54% of the new infections vs. Caucasiasn at 27% and Hispanics at just over 14%.

So far in 2022, 54 new cases have been reported. The highest-risk categories are MSM (men having sex with men) at 35% and heterosexual transmissions at 31%.

“Our case managers have confirmed that COVID-19 has created additional burdens for people living with HIV, people whose immune systems can be especially vulnerable,” said John Beckley, director of development and marketing for AIDS Delaware. “Many are struggling with isolation, depression and anxiety. This year, we walk with those folks in our hearts.”

A 2021 Delaware survey of people living with HIV uncovered that food insecurity, loss of access to transportation and unstable housing have added to their concerns. About 11% of people surveyed had moved in with others because of pandemic economic impacts, with other respondents navigating homelessness. Closed libraries limited people’s ability to access the internet for job searches and other services.

About 7 percent of people surveyed had reported receiving positive COVID-19 diagnoses. In all, 13 percent of those surveyed reported missing medication doses, and 20 percent reported missing or delaying routine HIV testing during the pandemic due to transportation and communication challenges.

As of 2019, UNAIDS data showed that the number of people worldwide living with HIV was on the rise, but the number of new annual HIV infections had fallen, as had those dying from the illness. This was attributed mainly to pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP, which can drastically reduce the risk of contracting the virus if one has access to it.

For these reasons, AIDS Walk Delaware is more important than ever – for people who’ve been living with compromised health for a long time, people who have just learned they are HIV-positive, people who love someone who is HIV-positive, and people for whom the best and broadest prevention efforts are still out of reach.

Walk funds also benefit other HIV service organizations, including CAMP Rehoboth, Ministry of Caring, Beautiful Gate Outreach Center, Latin American Community Center and William J. Holloway Community Program

Walkers are encouraged to visit the Knowledge Neighborhood at their respective park before and after walking. Dogs are welcome at both locations. Walkers are asked to follow CDC and state guidelines and safety protocols in place at the time of the walk. At the time of this release, masks are voluntary.

AIDS Walk Delaware 2022 is being held as a courtesy of Ivira Pharmacy, presenting sponsor. Thanks go to 2022 sponsors: AAA MidAtlantic, Alpha Phi Alpha, Astra Zeneca, Beebe Healthcare, ChristianaCare, Chubb, Corteva Agriscience, Delaware Pride, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, McCrery & Harra Funeral Homes, Rehoboth Beach Bears, Rigby’s, Schell Brothers, the Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, the Wawa Foundation, ViiV Healthcare, We Work For Health and Young Conaway.

For more information, go to AIDSWalkDelaware.org  or contact John Beckley at jbeckley@aidsdelaware.org or 302-652-6776, Ext. 221.