LIVE Magazine Vol 7, Issue #167

Vol 6 Issue 141 September 21 thru October 5, 2012
M A G A Z I N E
Palm Springs
San Diego
Las Vegas
• Nicky Award Report
• Palm Springs’ Cinema Diverse
• Shows • Events • Dining • Travel • Benefits • People
Throughout its 30 years of service in the communities of the Coachella
Valley, dedicated volunteers, donors, and sponsors have been the
lifeblood of Desert AIDS Project. During a quarter-century of Desert
AIDS Walks, they have helped to raise almost $6.25 million from
friends and families, as well as through significant sponsorships from
community partnerships.
Local heroes like Patrick Jordan, Keith Markovitz, Barbara Keller, Mark Anton,
Linda Stevens, Rick Draughon and many others have stepped forward once again,
to show their support as top fundraisers. They invite you to join the fun at the
26th Desert AIDS Walk, presented by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians,
beginning at 7:30 AM, on Saturday, October 19 at Ruth Hardy Park.
Walgreens, which has an in-house pharmacy at D.A.P. for client convenience,
will be the Walk’s Health and Wellness Fair presenting sponsor. Other sponsors
include Pride Card Services, Desert Regional Medical Center, and Eisenhower
Medical Center. Stroll through the Fair and enjoy some early-morning coffee and
muffins from Koffi before warming up for the Walk with Kristin Olson of Urban
Yoga. Once a few calories are burned on the Walk, there will be tasty sandwiches
from Subway and tempting ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s back at Ruth Hardy Park.
If you can’t be there to Walk on October 19, consider making a donation by
visiting desertaidswalk.org/, as everyone helps D.A.P. move toward this year’s
Walk goal of $250,000. For the fourth year in a row, Walgreens has been running
its month-long Red Ribbon promotion in support of the Walk in local area stores.
Last year’s promotion donated more than $10,000. Revivals, the local chain of
resale stores whose sales benefit D.A.P., is also accepting donations in-store.
D.A.P. is thrilled with the commitment it has been receiving in making the “Stop
AIDS” part of the Walk’s slogan come to life. Community partners like AIDS
Assistance Program, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, Mizell Senior
Center, Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Desert Regional Medical Center, and
many more, along with D.A.P., have signed on to a coalition of community
partners called Get Tested Coachella Valley.
As it continues to unfold over the coming months, Get Tested Coachella Valley
will be the nation’s first-ever, region-wide campaign dedicated to dramatically
reducing transmission of HIV. To encourage the efforts of these community
partners, half of the net proceeds raised by each of these Walk partners will go
back to the coffers of their own organizations, while the other half will benefit
D.A.P.’s care, prevention, and advocacy efforts.
“In our valley, the prevalence of HIV is estimated at 67% higher than the national
average – which puts everyone at greater risk – especially when you consider that
nearly 70% of Coachella Valley residents have never been tested for HIV,” said
David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project. “We’re so gratified that essential
decision-makers and influencers have signed on to join our Walk and to Get
Tested Coachella Valley because the CDC estimates that approximately one in five
people living with HIV in the U.S. don’t know they are infected.”
The good news is that the journal Science hailed an international study as the
“2011 Breakthrough of the Year” when it proved that an individual who begins
taking the right medications soon after becoming HIV-positive is 96% less likely to
pass the virus to others. “Expect to hear a lot more about Get Tested Coachella
Valley from D.A.P. and the other coalition partners in the months to come,”
continued Brinkman. “But in the meantime, here’s hoping everyone will join us at
the Walk and continue to spread the word to ‘Walk – Get Tested – Stop AIDS.’”
ABOUT DESERT AIDS PROJECT
Desert AIDS Project serves people living with HIV and AIDS by providing comprehensive
support, including medical care, case management, and social services, like food,
housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also offers free and confidential HIV testing at a number
of locations throughout the communities it serves. To learn more about Desert AIDS
Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on
Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.
- See more at: http://www.desertaidsproject.org/staying-current/press-releases/walkget-tested-stop-aids-on-saturday-october-19/#sthash.zQkxCvZ2.dpuf
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