Hundreds participate in AIDS walk for 'the greatest purpose'
By Loresha Wilson
Diversity Institute Fellow
11.06.02
Cool winds and drizzling rain didn’t damper the compassionate atmosphere that dominated Centennial Park on Sunday, Oct. 20.
More than 2,500 people gathered at the park in honor of the 11th Annual Nashville CARES AIDS Walk. About 1,000 people participated in the three-mile-walk around the park.
The event raises money for AIDS-related support services and education for individuals in Middle Tennessee who are infected with HIV or AIDS, according to Joe Interrante, executive director of Nashville CARES.
“This is not the greatest day, but it is for the greatest purpose,” said Interrante. “We help 40,000 men, women and children every year in this 13-county area.”
From infants in strollers to seniors in wheelchairs, the crowd completed the walk in less than an hour.
Walkers helped raise money by collecting pledges from donors. There were individual walkers as well as teams.
Nine-year-old Trey Banks walked with his mother, sister and the family’s two dogs.
“AIDS is a disease with no cure, and I walked because I wanted to help raise money,” he said.
Other organizations also were on hand to help. For the first time, the event included a health and wellness festival. Metro Health, Priority Hospice Care, Inc., TennCare Consumer Advocacy Program, Planned Parenthood and other agencies set up booths to provide information about services available to the community.
Street Works, a mobile outreach agency that addresses health disparities and substance abuse issues in areas hit hard by crime and illegal drug activity, offered on-site HIV testing during the walk.
“Our mission is to target drug users, sex industry workers and high-risk youths in unreachable corners of our communities,” said Ron Crowder, the agency’s executive director and founder.
Other highlights of the day included face painting and balloons for kids, live entertainment and food vendors.
During one band’s performance, Dabney Johnson stood alone in front of the main stage clapping her hands, rocking from side to side.
"It’s just a sad thing, but the music sounds good,” said Johnson, who served as a volunteer at the event by assisting in the information booth.
Johnson said she volunteered because she wanted to help educate the community.
People under 25, African-Americans and women are among the fastest-growing populations infected with the disease, said T. Allen Morgan, development associate for Nashville CARES.