NEWS RELEASE/Photo OP
Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life Is Coming to Victoria BC September 19, 2015
[Victoria, BC; September 15] – The 2015 Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life, is a national fundraising and awareness movement. AIDS Walk YYJ takes place at Centennial Square on Saturday, September 19, 2015. We invite all Victoria residents to join us, to raise awareness about living with HIV, to encourage people to get tested and to raise funds that directly benefit HIV/AIDS service organizations within our community.
Thanks to advancements in antiretroviral medications, people today are living longer, healthier lives with HIV. Despite these advances in treatment; there still remains no cure or vaccines to prevent new infections. When you have HIV/AIDS, life gets a lot harder.
“The AIDS Walk for Life reminds us all that HIV still poses major obstacles for people living with the virus and that the need to respond by providing support and creating awareness is as urgent as ever,” says Craig Dales, Executive Director of the Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society (VPWAS).
“The consequences of stigma and discrimination are wide-ranging. Some people are shunned by family, friends and the wider community, while others face poor treatment in healthcare, workplace and education settings, erosion of their human rights, and psychological damage. These all limit access to HIV testing, treatment and other HIV services “
“All AIDS Walk YYJ proceeds stay in our community and enable the Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society, the only peer based and operated HIV/AIDS organization on Vancouver Island, to offer programs and services to improve the lives of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. On Saturday, September 19, 2015, we’re challenging all residents to come and help those living with HIV.”
So don’t just stand there, help us tackle the obstacles by registering for your local Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life, sponsoring a participant or a team, volunteering or making a donation. www.aidswalkforlife.ca/victoria.htm.
Join us at Centennial Square on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 11am for a community information fair, then at 12 (noon) we will be joined by guest speakers Randall Garrison M.P., Murray Rankin M.P., Acting Mayor Marianne Alto and entertainment by Mr. Gay Vancouver Island and Friends.
The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life in Victoria is being held in conjunction with Walks that will be taking place in over 40 communities across Canada the week of September 12-20.
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For more information visit:
http://aidswalkforlife.ca
http://vpwas.com/aidswalkyyj/
Follow AIDS Walk YYJ on Twitter:
@aidswalkyyj
Event hashtag:
#aidswalkyyj
#walkyyj
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AIDSWalkVictoriaBC
For more information, or to arrange for interviews, please contact:
Sarah Wilson
Coordinator Walk YYJ
sarah.wilson@vpwas.org
250.382.7927
Craig Dales
Executive Director, VPWAS
craig.dales@vpwas.org
250.382.7927
www.vpwas.org
National Sponsors
Title: Scotiabank Platinum: Santa Margherita Gold: Gilead Bronze: Bristol-Myers Squibb Promotional Partners: Cineplex Entertainment, Maclean’s Magazine, The Walrus Magazine, Marketwired, Rainbow Cinemas & Magic Lantern Theatres
About Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society (VPWAS) The Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society (VPWAS), founded in 1991, is the only peer based and operated HIV/AIDS organization on Vancouver Island and offers compassionate, peer navigation and support, treatment information and education to all persons living with HIV/AIDS as well as prevention services to people in Greater Victoria.
In addition to supporting our mission, we also offer life enhancement activities and a number of programs and services to our membership. Many of these programs and services are prepared and operated by HIV+ member volunteers themselves. With staff support we encourage this as we feel it enables self-empowerment for our members and promotes self-improvement through a healthy lifestyle and outlook on the future. All proceeds and donations go to support these programs and services directly.
About the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is a project of the Canadian AIDS Society, in partnership with the Positive Living Society of British Columbia and community-based AIDS organizations across Canada. During the national week-long event, cities and communities from across the country host Walks to raise funds for local services and programming and to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. As Canada’s most important HIV/AIDS awareness and fundraising event, the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life has now raised over $42 million for community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations since 1996 and has attracted well over half a million participants. Scotiabank continues its multi-year commitment as title sponsor for the AIDS Walk, playing a key role in expanding its promotional and fundraising capacity.