27 years have passed since the first case of AIDS was reported, and still the epidemic rages on.
Sadly, AIDS is now the leading cause of death for all people ages 15 to 59 worldwide. While here in the United States, the number of people living with HIV has now grown to nearly 1.2 million.
According to UNAIDS, “Every day, over 6,800 persons become infected with HIV, and over 5,700 persons die of AIDS, mostly because of inadequate access to HIV prevention and treatment services.”
Fortunately, compassionate people throughout the United States have formed AIDS organizations to provide services, reduce the human suffering and bring hope to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.
The National AIDS Marathon Training Program was developed by Walk-The-Talk Productions in 1998 to support the heroic efforts of these agencies by raising funds and awareness. In the past ten years, more than 20,000 people have successfully completed this training program and raised $80 million.
Our mission is to help our runners accomplish their training and fundraising goals, enabling them to make a significant contribution to the fight against AIDS. Our training program is geared to beginners and experienced runners alike who share a common goal -- to bring an end to the AIDS epidemic. We have training programs in Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and coming soon, in South Florida.
The benefiting organizations -- AIDS Foundation of Chicago, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AIDS Project Los Angeles and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation are leading the fight against HIV disease both within their local communities and in areas of the world where the need is more urgent. In addition to HIV prevention efforts, they offer a variety of vital services including food, housing assistance, and health care. They are also effective advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS who too often must face the additional battle against ignorance and intolerance.
Thank you for your support.
Click here for a copy of these organizations’ annual reports:
-AIDS Foundation of Chicago
-AIDS Healthcare Foundation
-AIDS Project Los Angeles
-San Francisco AIDS Foundation
