For 23 years Atlanta has been hosting their annual AIDS walk & 5k run at Piedmont Park. On Oct. 20, more than 10,000 people gathered in the park Sunday to run or walk together and raise awareness for AIDS.
The event raised more than 1 million dollars and included remarks in the opening ceremonies from former Miss USA 2012, Nana Meriwether, WSB-TV’s Jovita Moore, as well as AID Atlanta interim Executive Director Cathy Woolard. RJ Helton from season one of American Idol performed there as well.
Among the many Atlanta natives in attendance, there were also a lot of students from Georgia State University as well as other major universities in downtown Atlanta.
“Georgia State is a large part of Atlanta and it starts with us and it’s up to us to try come out and help find a cure,” senior, Johnne’ Collins, said.
Campus organizations such as Softer Touch, Tighter Grip and The International Students Associations Council were there as well as Greek organizations like the Pi Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma and the Zeta Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.
The University Commons Housing formed a team as well under the name Carpe Diem, and many students as well as Resident Assistants and housing officials were there walking together.
Dante’ Barnswell who is a senior and also a Resident Assistant in the Commons was inspired to walk by his team coordinator.
“Angel Harper the team’s coordinator was very passionate about it, and with her being so passionate about it inspired me to walk, and to see what the cause was about,” Said Barnswell.
Once teams finished the walk they were greeted with free snacks such as bananas, coconut water, health bars and beef jerky.
Many Georgia State students choose to walk, because they wanted to support the Atlanta community and believe that our school and this walk definitely go hand in hand.
“It’s important for Georgia State to get involved with this event because Georgia State emphasizes diversity and AIDS knows no color or gender,” sophomore, Anthony Smith, said.
Atlanta’s AIDS walk & run gave students a chance to interact with those in the Atlanta community that are supporting the cause or have AIDS themselves. It also reminded students that if they are sexually active they should know their status and stay sexually safe.
Georgia State’s Student Health Promotions sponsers free confidential HIV testing once a month at certain locations here on campus.
They require no appointments as well. All students have to do is show up, take their painless test and they will recieve their results in 30 to 45 minutes.
Students can also recieve free confidential HIV testing at the schools clinic located on Piedmont Avenue across from the University Commons.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states on their website that those ages 20 to 24 make up the highest percentage of people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. Georgia is the 5th state in the country with the highest number of HIV/AID Diagnoses as well.
The CDC states that in 2009, 39 percent of all new infections are accounted for by young people.
