|
 |
|
Photo by Bill Green
On National HIV Testing Day, June 27, an HIV/AIDS walk will be held at Frederick Church of the Brethren. Bill Rice, of the church, and Debbie Anne, an HIV program supervisor with the Frederick County Health Department, are pictured. |
|
 |
|
|
The first HIV or AIDS walk in recent history will be held June 27. The Frederick AIDS Awareness 5K Walk is expected to become an annual event in Frederick .The Frederick County Health Department, Frederick Church of the Brethren and Positive Influence Inc. chose the day because it is National HIV Testing Day. "It's time to get people thinking about it again," said Debbie Anne, AIDS certified registered nurse and HIV Program supervisor with the Frederick County Health Department. "Every nine and a half minutes someone contracts HIV (in the U.S.)." Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the 5K walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the church on Fairview Avenue, across from Schifferstadt Architectural Museum. All funds will go to education, support and awareness programs for HIV and AIDS in Frederick County. Free, confidential and private HIV testing will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with trained staff, who can answer questions and provide information and education. In addition, volunteers will collect horizontal 12 by 18 inch (with an additional 1 inch border) panels for a Frederick community AIDS quilt. The quilt is fashioned after the National AIDS Quilt, but this one will stay in Frederick and be available to the community for education and awareness purposes. Each panel usually represents a person who died with HIV or AIDS. For details, e-mail info@fcob.net. A year ago, Bob Rice, HIV/AIDS Ministry chairman with Frederick Church of the Brethren, found a place he could serve, not only with the upcoming walk, but also to help people affected by the disease. As a ministry, FCB is raising awareness and removing the stigma of HIV through education beginning with the church and then throughout the community. "We offer care and support to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. This is a place where they can come, worship and know they are home," Rice said. "It's something that I've felt strongly about for a longtime," he said. "I have the time and interest to make an impact." "It's not the end of the world," Rice said. "There's lots of hope," Anne chimed in.
|
