More than 150 people walked the B-Line Trail on Friday to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in Indiana and to raise money for HIV prevention and services.
The South Central Indiana AIDS Walk was a fundraiser for Positive Link, a program of IU Health that provides HIV prevention efforts and social services across south central Indiana.. The program provides free services to people in 23 counties.
The event raised more than $19,000, and Positive Link is still accepting donations through the AIDS Walk website until April 14.
The event began with a family festival at the parking lot on the corner of Third Street and College Avenue. As participants gathered for the walk, the Jefferson Street Parade Band led the way with music as people walked from the B-Line Trail’s pedestrian bridge on Third Street to City Hall.
Community AIDS Action Group of South Central Indiana member Meredith Short said the walk is an essential fundraiser for Positive Link, which is primarily funded by grants.
“This walk is a really important way to fill in the gaps and make sure Positive Link’s programs stay funded in between grant cycles and that sort of thing,” Short said.
The event used to be called the Bloomington AIDS Walk, but the name changes to reflect how Positive Link’s services extend across the south central area, Short said.
Members of the Indiana Recovery Alliance set up their van at the festival to discuss their resources for HIV treatment and prevention, including their needle exchange program and outreach services.
Indiana Recovery Alliance founder and director Chris Abert said the AIDS Walk allows the community to know the resources available in the area, whether it is Positive Link or Indiana Recovery Alliance.
He said there are many people in the organization working to “get to zero” with HIV and make sure people have the care they need.
“Given enough awareness and enough funding, we can see the end of HIV within our lifetimes,” Abert said.
Indiana Recovery Alliance member Alex Mann said the organization wants to erase the large stigma attached to drug users and offer assistance to people affected by HIV, hepatitis C or drug addiction without any religious or political dogma attached.
”Part of our mission is to just re-humanize people in the eyes of other people,” Mann said.
Bloomington Pride chair Janae Cummings provided information about the organization at a table at the festival. She said she came to the walk to show Bloomington Pride’s support for Positive Link.
“This event is really important because HIV seriously impacts the LGBTQ community, and we will always be here to support any program or any group that is doing work to support individuals in our community,” Cummings said.
She said she wants people to know that HIV is still a serious problem.
“We hear a lot less about HIV these days, and because of that, it’s not at the top of the line, and it needs to be,” Cummings said. “HIV awareness is always important. It can’t be something that we forget about.”
