Local resident and co-chair of AIDSWALK, Carlton Smith has no plans to slow down as he gears up for the annual charity walk to raise awareness about the deadly disease.
“I?ve been living with [HIV] for over 20 years,” Smith said.
Personal experience with the infection and HERO Inc. (Health Education Resource Organization) has “helped me to encourage others that they can live and become involved in the community as well,” Smith said.
Smith serves on the board that coordinated the 19th Annual AIDSWALK scheduled for Sunday.
HERO, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, food vouchers and primary medical care to families within the Baltimore City community, is holding the event.
“We come out to all organizations and businesses and talk about AIDS prevention,” said Johnetta Morgan-King, development associate for HERO. “This year we?re hoping up to 1,000 people [will participate in the walk].”
Morgan-King said they did not advertise the walk as much as they have this year. Last year, about 400 to 500 people participated.
Before and during the walk, tax deductible pledges will be collected. All proceeds will be donated to services provided by HERO, Morgan-King said.
“[The walk is] important because the crisis of AIDS is not over,” Morgan-King said. “We?re hoping for people to raise pledges and support the agency and the HIV community.”
The walk is intended to not only educate the community but to remember those who died and those currently living with HIV or AIDS.
“We?re still a long way from [riding society of] homophobia and other stigmatisms that are associated with AIDS, but there is still hope,” Smith said.
» Registration for the 3.2-mile walk begins at 7 a.m. Sunday in Druid Hill Park.
