On Sunday, October 21, the 25th AIDS Walk Austin will take place. I have been to every one of them. Um, 25th..... that means I've been doing this since.... um, I must have been a child when this started. Yeah, that's the ticket. I was a small child. It is just really hard to wrap my brain around that number, 25. But really - I walked back in the bad old days, when we used to get heckled by religious zealouts. (I actually kinda enjoyed getting heckled by Mark Weaver & his merry little band of troglodytes, as I called them. I walked taller when going by them. If Mark Weaver is yelling at you, trust me, you are doing something right. Also, I could make them turn amusing shades of red & purple. They'd yell something horrible like "God hates fags" & I'd yell back "No, She doesn't!" and watch the color changes. Great fun. Yes, I am a mean, mean person.)
And then there was the year a strong cold front blew in the night before the Walk. It was suddenly about 20 degrees colder than it had been the day before, and it wasn't just raining cats & dogs. It was raining in sheets. Really. Just a few of us crazy people showed up for that one. And there have been years when it was so hot - at the end of October, mind you - that I was worried about people getting heat stress. But all the Walks have been great. It is sort of like a reunion - I see people that I only see at the Walk, meet new people & have a great time. You should come, too.
Information from the AIDS Walk Austin website (as if you need to know more about why to contribute to an AIDS organization):
The AIDS crisis continues. AIDS has no cure. We need your help. There are over 4,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Austin. There are approximately 1500 Austinites living with HIV/AIDS who do not know they have it. 1 out of every 5 people in Austin with HIV/AIDS is between 15 and 24 years old. In Austin alone, 100 people die of HIV/AIDS each year.
Who Benefits: AIDS Services of Austin and the fundraising teams of over ten other outstanding HIV/AIDS service and education providers!
I am, as usual raising money for this great cause. But I'm putting the link for general donations also, so you don't have to give through me. And if you live in Austin - come on out & walk with us! It is great fun, even without hecklers.
my donation page
I forgot to mention my goal -- my goal is $5,000. The beneficiaries really, really need the help, please donate! Yes, even in an election year. This money helps people directly.