AIDS walk to raise money, awareness

Alpha Sigma Tau-sponsored event to benefit Valley AIDS Network

With AIDS still being an epidemic in the United States, Alpha Sigma Tau sorority is working to raise both awareness and money for the Valley AIDS Network this week.

Following its theme "Know now. Prevent now. Fight now," AST hopes to get the campus involved through a series of events that lead up to the biggest event — the AIDS walk.

"AIDS awareness has been an important event for our sorority, and so through tradition and seeing the success people before us have had has just made this a service event very dear to our hearts," said junior Krista Gallagher, AST president. "While we commit to other types of service events, AIDS awareness is our central focus and what we are most known for involvement in."

From March 17 to 19, AST will be on the commons conducting AIDS awareness and education, where there will be information available on AIDS.

The sixth annual AIDS Run/Walk is Saturday, March 20 and is open to everyone. Registration for the run/walk begins at 10 a.m., and the race begins at 11 a.m. The race starts at the College Center and continues throughout the campus.

All of the proceeds go to the Valley AIDS Network, which assists children and adults living with or affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic here in the Shenandoah Valley.

Registration is $10 for students and $15 for nonstudents.

Last year's AIDS Run/Walk raised $2,560. "In the past, the Run/Walk has been a solo event," said junior Michelle Cary, AST's philanthropy chair. "However, this year, we wanted to extend our efforts to an entire week and take a more educational approach as well. Therefore, we are shooting for raising $4,000."

AST will hold a Cabaret Show from the Valley AIDS Network in the College Center Grand Ballroom Sunday, March 21 at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

The sorority has arranged with the University Health Center that all day Monday, March 22, anyone can walk in without an appointment for anonymous HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AIDS Benefit Concert will be held March 23 at 7:30 p.m., which will feature. Adelyn, Ross Copperman and some JMU a cappella groups.

"I believe it is important for the campus to be involved with AST's philanthropy, as it benefits a local organization vs. sending the money nationally, and is to fight against a disease where the fastest growing population being infected is our age group," Cary said.

"Without the support and attendance of the JMU and surrounding community, there would be no event to plan," Cary said.

"By taking an educational approach this year, we are not only trying to raise money, but to raise prevention awareness for the benefit of JMU students. This is why our campaign slogan is 'Know now. Prevent now. Fight now.'"