Six Lawrentians participated in an AIDS Walk last Sunday along Milwaukee’s lakefront that raised $414,176 for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. The annual walk is Wisconsin’s largest AIDS fundraiser, and celebrated its 15th anniversary this year.
The ARCW promotes AIDS prevention and education, provides services to victims of AIDS and HIV, and promotes advocacy and research for AIDS issues throughout Wisconsin.
Lawrentians participating included Brian Hilgeman, Korbyn Doucette, Chris Snapp, and Andy York, who are members of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, Kristina Nockleby, and Emily Klosiewski.
Walkers created e-mail lists of friends and family and collected online donations. Hilgeman said that the four Phi Taus raised over $300, “which is pretty good for college students.”
Lawrence University has another connection to the ARCW through Joe Brooks, a 2003 graduate who works for the organization.
Many of the walkers knew friends or family who had been struck by the disease. Klosiewski has participated in AIDS walks for a few years now, and raised about $100 this year. Klosiewski does not know any AIDS victims personally, but feels the global and local problem requires action. “[It’s important] not to lose sight of the big picture,” she said.
Hilgeman sought to organize the event through Phi Tau, but invited the rest of the campus to the event through his involvement with Lawrence’s Volunteer and Community Service Center.
Students seeking volunteerism opportunities can participate in Appleton’s CROP walk October 10 to fight hunger.
Those looking to donate to the ARCW can do so online at http://arcw.org/Donate%20Now.htm.