11th Annual Okanagan Family AIDS Walk
Sets another Walker Number Record!
Kelowna – For the 11th consecutive year, the rain held off and the sun broke through the clouds as hundreds of people gathered on Sunday, September 23rd at Waterfront Park in Kelowna for the Okanagan Family AIDS Walk presented by Interior Savings. Over 900 walkers raised pledges for the fundraising event put on by the Living Positive Resource Centre. All of the funds raised by the walk stay right here in our community to help support individuals and families whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS, for education and prevention programs, and to support the Holding Hands for Hospice Campaign in Kelowna and North Okanagan Youth and Family Services in Vernon. Total cash raised to date was $50,020, with further donations still to come.
A stellar cast of Celebrity Walkers included 2007 AIDS Walk Chairman Dr. Bill Nelems, 2007 Honourary AIDS Walk Chair and Canadian Gold Medal Olympian Mark Tewksbury, and Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Paul Hasselback. Former AIDS Walk Chairs also continued to show their support, including Kelowna Lake Country MP Ron Cannan; Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd; motivational speaker Rhonda Victoor and Rev. Albert Baldeo. Living Positive Resource Centre Board Member Beryl Itani gave a heartfelt and emotional tribute to Executive Director Daryle Roberts, as he was recognized and thanked for a decade of leadership and dedication in addressing community and social issues, and for helping to improve the quality of life for so many people in our community.
This year also saw the largest number of teams participating including Bernard Callebaut Chocolates, BC Thoracic Surgery, Standard Radio(SUN FM/1150 Talk Radio), Interior Savings Fast Cats, MAC Cosmetics, Starbucks, the Glenrosa Middle School A.C.E.S., Crossroads: Road to Recovery, KGH 3 East, KGH Wakers & Shakers, Westbank First Nation Rubber Duckies, Okanagan College, First United Church Outreach, Sunridge Community Church, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society Bear Paws, Trinity Baptist Church, Team Lululemon Athletica, UBC Okanagan School of Nursing, and the UBC Okanagan Student Union. Out of town teams included Team NOYFSS from Vernon and SOGALA from Penticton.
The Top Team Corporate Winners were once again Bernard Callebaut Chocolates with a total of $10,033.50. Top Team Non-Corporate was Trinity Baptist Church with a total of $4,640.00. Top Individual Fundraiser was Sandi Evans of First United Church Outreach with a total of $300.00, while Top Fundraiser within a team saw previous five-time winner Tracy Hansen of Bernard Callebaut Chocolates reclaim his title with a stunning record-breaking total of $9,970.00. Eldest Walker prize was won by Mona Shelley, with Youngest Walker honors going to 7 week old Ivory August Sarmiento. The Team Spirit Award went to UBC Okanagan Student Union, and Individual Spirit Award went to Rev. Albert Baldeo.
It was a party like atmosphere with SUN FM Morning Show Hosts Susan Knight and Tarzan Dan Freeman serving as Masters of Ceremony. The crowd was entertained by local band ‘The City’, and M & M Meats, Wrap Daddy’s, Bliss Bakery, Starbucks, and the Smoothie Guy ensured everyone was fueled up for the 3 km walk along the waterfront. Walkers participated in creating two art murals with the assistance of local artists Ruth MacLaurin, Lee Claremont and Will Swite. The murals will be taken to Fine Arts students at the University of British Columbia Okanagan for final touches, and will then be on display in Kelowna Art Gallery during AIDS Awareness Week from November 24th until December 1st (World AIDS Day).
It was an incredible day in support of a great cause. AIDS Walk Chair Dr. Bill Nelems set a goal to help reduce prejudice, stigma and discrimination. Judging by the amount of community support shown, it would appear that organizers took another big step in achieving that goal.
Many thanks to all of the volunteers, walkers and sponsors for making this day such a success!
For more information or to volunteer, please contact us:
Living Positive Resource Centre
250-862-2437
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