The AIDS Run/Walk that took place Sept. 15 in Grant Park was quite a success.
Over 7,000 individuals took part in the event, a marked increased over the approximately 5,500 people who participated last year, said Mark Ishaug, executive director of AIDS Foundation of Chicago, which sponsors the event. When asked why so many more people were involved this year, Ishaug cited ‘good planning; great outreach to community agencies, churches and corporate teams; and the most important thing—which I had no control over—the weather. It was a gorgeous day.
‘Hundreds of runners and walkers came out to help us commemorate those we’ve lost and speak out for those living and still in need of services. The stars were aligned.’
However, despite the fact that this year’s event was successful (bringing in over $400,000 so far to those organizations that participated), Ishaug told Windy City Times that there still is some distance to go, even with such corporate backers as McDonald’s, Pepsi and CNA. ‘We’re trying to continue to get the word out that AIDS is not over, and we’re doing a good job—but we’re so far from doing a great job,’ he said. ‘We have to turn this into a huge event. We have to go from ‘great’ to ‘greater,’ and I know we can do it.’