Walk to raise funds to help stop the spread of AIDS set for this weekend.

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Don Levandier

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While HIV or AIDS may not be as predominant in the media now as it was in the late '80s and '90s, its publicity decline in no way indicates that the disease is on the retreat. Currently in Canada an estimated 58,000 people live everyday with HIV or AIDS. And while 2008 figures haven't been released, 2006 studies have shown 355 reported cases of HIV and 166 reported cases of AIDS in New Brunswick alone.

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On September 21 the Scotiabank Walk For Life will officially kick-off along the Moncton waterfront in a effort to raise money to deter the spread of the disease. The City of Moncton will be among 56 other communities across Canada participating in the event. New Brunswick doubles the national average of walks per province with eight N.B. communities joining in the fight - Bathurst, Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John among them. Moncton's walk is now in its 15th year and is one of the fastest growing walks in the country. This year's walk promises to be no exception with a hula-hoop warm-up, guest speaker MP Brian Murphy, DJ John Doiron, face painting, a barbecue, skits performed by local artist "Invincible Girl" and of course the 2.5 km walk along the scenic Riverfront Park.

The event itself is being co-ordinated locally by AIDS Moncton, for whom the walk is the largest fundraiser of the year. Over 100 people participated last year and turnouts are expected to beat that figure this year. While the 2007 event helped the organization to raise $15,000, AIDS Moncton has set $20,000 as its goal this year. For the past two months eight teams and many individuals have been doing the bulk of their fundraising by holding raffles, corporate casual days and fundraisers, online donations, drop-offs, and door-to-door canvassing.

"This day is about sharing knowledge and information about HIV to prevent further infections. It's also about providing hope, through our fundraising efforts, to the many Canadians who are currently living with or affected by HIV," says AIDS Moncton Events Co-ordinator Kate Doyle. While the fundraiser takes place on a national scale between the September 14-21, these walks are unique in that all the funds raised stay on the local levels. Money raised from the Moncton walk will stay in Moncton, Dieppe, and Riverview to fund programs aimed at education, prevention, and promoting quality of life.

AIDS Moncton has been in operation since 1989 and offers many services to the public. "We run a program called Safe Spaces where teens can come to ask questions, talk, and just feel safe and comfortable about their sexuality," says Doyle. Another program the organization runs is Sex 101 for Parents which is designed to help families become proactive about sexual education. "We're promoting quality of life," says Doyle. "Not just for those who are infected, but family and friends who are also affected by the disease."

AIDS Moncton has also been reaching out into the community by offering free condoms to target groups and running seminars in schools.

"We offer educational presentations that are designed to be interactive and fun for students. It's important that youth take the material seriously, but at the same time aren't terrified by the presentation," Doyle says.

AIDS Moncton also recognizes that a high percentage of those infected contract the disease from sharing needles.

"We offer an anonymous needle distribution service," Doyle says. "We've got to do absolutely everything in our power to prevent HIV and AIDS from spreading." The AIDS Moncton organization also runs an information line, awareness campaigns, houses a resource library with free educational materials, and a support fund for people living with the disease. "We truly couldn't continue our day-to-day operations without the support of our volunteers and fundraisers," says Doyle.

Tasha Bonnar, of Moncton, is one of those volunteers participating in the walk, and while this is her first time taking part in the event, she's certain it won't be her last.

"AIDS is a lot more common and widespread than people think and is something that's so preventable," says Bonnar on the walk's importance. Bonnar has volunteered for many causes, but was especially inspired by a seminar she attended in university given by an HIV positive speaker. The event not only changed her outlook on the disease, but motivated her to get into fundraising for the cause. "It's just that to me "" we can see the possible elimination of AIDS if everyone would chip in and do their part," Bonnar says.

But AIDS Moncton wouldn't be able to hold such a successful fundraiser year after year without some heavy help.

"The community response has been simply amazing," says Doyle. "I literally had people chasing me down with donations." 2008 will mark the first year that the national walk has included a title sponsor with Scotiabank coming on board to help raise money for the cause. Sobeys has also provided food for the barbecue, and many other businesses were quick to provide prizes and promotion like Via Rail, and CBC's Radio Morning. Local restoclub Rouge was also eager to augment the fundraising by hosting the second and now annual AIDS Moncton benefit dinner which included live jazz music, a five-course dinner, and a reception to a packed house.

While the majority of the fundraising is done and the gears already set in motion for what promises to be an excellent event, AIDS Moncton is always in need of support from the community.

"We're confident that support we receive from our region will continue to grow and that Moncton will once again hold one of the fastest growing walks," says Doyle who is hopeful for the future and believes that 2008 will tally an excellent year for AIDS Moncton as well as the Scotiabank Walk For Life.

The event is open to the public to attend and those who are making the 2.5 km trek would certainly appreciate the fanfare. The events get underway at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 21 with entertainment and the opening ceremonies. An awards presentation will wrap up the day, after the walk around 3:15 p.m. The events are taking place rain or shine and are being held at Riverfront Park next to the fire station on Assomption Blvd.

More information on AIDS Moncton as well as volunteering information and online or mail donation information can be found on the AIDS Moncton website (www.sida-aidsmoncton.com).