Lewis University Hosts Annual AIDS Walk, Run

Around 100 people were in attendance for the 16th annual Regional CARE Association AIDS walk and fun run at on Saturday. The Joliet-based organization offers medical and counseling services for individuals living with HIV and AIDS, free anonymous testing and HIV prevention and awareness efforts.

The event, in its 13th year at Lewis, was hosted by Keith White, director of the theater program at Lewis University.

“The wonderful thing about Lewis is their support for the program every year," White said. "It’s great people can come together at an event like this and raise money for people who really need some support with their potential diseases."

Among attendees were Lewis President Br. James Gaffney, the entire Lockport High School volleyball team, Lewis students and many community members.

“There may be a much bigger event for AIDS research taking place in Chicago today," Gaffney said, referring to a simultaneous CARE Association event held Saturday in Chicago, "but the really gifted and generous people are here at Lewis."

Roughly 100 people typically show up to participate in the annual 5k walk and fun run at Lewis, raising between $7,000 and $10,000 each year. Numbers for this year’s walk have yet to be tallied, but it looks to be on par with past events. For the second year in a row, the walkers went through the Lewis nature trail for most of the walk.

According to White, with the still-struggling economy and the financial crisis faced by the State of Illinois, events like the 5K have become increasingly important to smaller non-profits like the Regional CARE Assocation. 

“The state nowadays isn’t paying any money for a lot of these kinds of programs and health agencies," he said. "It’s more important than ever to generate outside funds to keep these programs going."

Nicole Puracchio, CARE Association board of directors secretary and co-chair to the AIDS walk, said she and her family have been coming out to this event the last 14 years.

“We have been coming out here since my eldest son was still in his stroller and I think its great that Lewis supports us every year,” said Purracchio.

“I learned a lot about what people who have the disease go with and I realized how blessed we are in life, so we want to come out here every year and set a good example, it really shows that we care.”

The group that raised the most money for the event was the LHS volleyball players. They were followed closely behind by the Delta Sigma Theta chapter at Lewis and the Brown Chapel team.

A fun run portion of the event was available for kids under the age of 12.

Lewis sophomore Erika Young participated in the AIDS walk for the first time this year.

“I’m a big supporter of a lot of community projects, so when I heard Lewis would be having this AIDS walk, I immediately jumped on board to help in any way I could,” said Young.

Many of the supporters signed amemory wall for those who may have lost loved ones to the disease, or for those currently fighting AIDS.

This event will not be the last taking place at Lewis for the Regional CARE Association this year. The theater department is planning a silent auction this spring to raise money for AIDS and HIV research.  

“Sharing our support and concern for people with great needs is marvelous. What we can do here may not make a difference for the whole world, but we still make a difference in some people’s lives,” Gaffney said.