AIDS Walk Delaware to raise awareness Sept. 21

AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium will jointly present the 38th annual AIDS Walk Delaware Saturday, Sept. 21, with walkers stepping off at 10 a.m. from Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. 

A concurrent walk will take place at Brandywine Park in Wilmington.

The walk is the state’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness event. Monies raised help provide free, rapid HIV testing, medical case management services, HIV-specific mental health counseling, HIV/PrEP education/prevention programs, housing and transportation services.

To register or donate, go to AIDSWalkDelaware.org.

This year’s walk coincides with the International Day of Peace, which promotes ideals including good health and well-being. To honor this, people will walk and raise funds to support those with HIV, ensuring they receive the medication and treatment necessary for their physical and mental well-being.

The walk also promotes education on HIV and PrEP to prevent further cases, empowering people with the knowledge to protect themselves and others. PrEP is a prevention medication that is 99% effective at reducing the risk of contracting HIV, but too few people are aware of it. As of this June, there are 3,993 people in Delaware with HIV, with 60 new cases reported so far this year.

“Our best chance of eliminating HIV is assuring people get tested, know their status, and if they are HIV positive, to get them into care and on a structured medical regimen. This helps them stay healthy and reduces the spread of HIV,” said Frank Hawkins, director of prevention services at AIDS Delaware. “People with HIV who get to and maintain an undetectable viral load have virtually no risk of spreading HIV to another person.”

Walk funds also benefit other HIV service organizations including CAMP Rehoboth.