by Kate Crofts
Daily Lobo
Early Saturday morning, more than 3,000 Albuquerque residents gathered at UNM's Johnson Field to raise money for the HIV/AIDS community of New Mexico.
The 12th annual Albuquerque AIDS Walk, a three-mile walk up and down Central Avenue, is a primary fundraiser for the New Mexico Aids Society. The money raised enables the organization to provide services for those suffering from HIV and AIDS in the Albuquerque area.
Brian Brown, development and marketing associate for NMAS, said the virus has touched many lives in the Albuquerque area.
"There are 650 people living with HIV/AIDS in our zone - the district reaching from Farmington to Gallup," Brown said.
Within those individuals, one social group is overly represented.
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"It's mostly the youth," Brown said. "Largely, the virus is affecting teenagers up to the age of 29. A lot of these people weren't around in the '80s when the virus was first talked about and did a lot of damage. They (the youth) think they can just take a pill and they'll be okay, but they won't be."
AIDS is a severe, often fatal, immunological disorder caused by the retrovirus HIV which can be transmitted through sexual contact, shared needles or blood exchange.
AIDS does not discriminate; its devastating effects reach people from all walks of life, in all parts of the world, Brown said.
Brown said the HIV/AIDS community of Albuquerque significantly benefits from the funds raised by the walk.
"The money we raise all stays here in our community," Brown said. "It helps NMAS provide people living with AIDS and HIV with counseling, medicine, acupuncture and support groups."
Brown said money raised through the annual walk also helps NMAS to prevent the spread of the virus.
"We are able to provide free virus screenings and tests," Brown said. "We hand out condoms. We send speakers to schools and hold a lot of lectures."
Maggie Smith, director of Resource Development for NMAS, said this year's proceeds exceeded their goals.
"So far today we've collected over $100,000," Smith said. "But we will continue to collect money over the next few days. Some of our larger groups haven't even turned over their money yet."
Several local businesses also lent a helping hand for the cause.
Smith said Citibank, this year's largest local contributor, donated more than $18,000.
In keeping with the community spirit of the event, NMAS recruited local businesses to sponsor the walk.
"While the larger corporations are of great benefit to the cause, we wanted to also get support from the local businesses - the Ma and Pa businesses," Brown said. "So we just walked up and down Nob Hill and explained the event, asking them to support us."
The large showing demonstrated the disease's effects on the community at large, Smith said.
"There are people from all walks of life here," Brown said. "Friends and families of those affected by AIDS, school groups, businesses - the whole community."
