Local communities benefit from nationwide event

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People across the country will take to the streets Sept. 25 for the sixth annual AIDS Walk Canada.

Communities from coast to coast will be holding AIDS Walks as part of the national event, designed both to raise funds for local AIDS programs, and to increase awareness of AIDS-related issues.

This year, almost 100 communities plan to take part in the AIDS Walk. All money raised by each local walk stays within the community. Since the first walk in 1995, walkers have raised more than $15 million each year, to be spent on local projects such as support services, advocacy services, and AIDS prevention education programs.

A number of the communities taking part in this year's event are First Nations, holding their walks under the "Healing Our Nations" banner. First Nations across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are hosting "Healing Our Nations" events, joined by the Conne River community in Newfoundland.

Walks are scheduled to take place in various other communities across the country, with events planned in every province, as well as in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

AIDS and HIV continue to be important issues for the Aboriginal community in Canada. According to information provided by the Canadian AIDS Society, Aboriginal people account for 17 per cent of new cases of HIV infection, although they make up only four per cent of the Canadian population.

For more information on the AIDS Walk Canada Campaign, visit the campaign website at: www.aidswalkcanada.com, call the project coordinator at 613-230-3580, or call 1-800-705-WALK.