Every year since 1991, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has held the AIDS Run & Walk as part of the movement to end the HIV epidemic. This year, it falls on Saturday, Sept. 28.
By Ariel Paul
The AIDS Run & Walk raises money for AFC and over 25 partner agencies to make sure people living with HIV have access to medicine, healthcare, and even winter coats.
“The theme is ‘Show Up, Show Out,’” said Simone Koehlinger, the chief program officer at AFC. “It’s a way to show up, be authentic, and support one another.”
Last year, 2000 participants showed up in person. Many who don’t attend in person participate virtually or donate online, Koehlinger said. Last year, the AIDS Run & Walk raised over $550,000 for AFC and community partners. According to Koehlinger, they expect a similar turnout this year.
“With the political fundraising going on, I think folks’ attention and dollars are understandably focused on other areas. But we still expect, leading up to the event, that we’ll see the same kind of presence and generosity that we’ve seen in years past,” Koehlinger said.
Koehlinger first participated in the run and walk in the early 2000s, before she even worked for AFC.
“It’s a wonderful day,” Koehlinger said. “There are thousands of people there together to remember those we’ve lost, to celebrate successes, and to double down and recommit to the road ahead. This is still an issue for so many people. And so it keeps us awake. It keeps us aware.”
Chicagoan Sergio Rodriguez added, “I didn’t know that much about the AIDS crisis or all of the details. My first year, I just joined because it was something that one of my coworkers was doing. I’ve learned so much through getting involved.”
Rodriguez has fundraised for the AIDS Run & Walk since 2013. He began just doing the walk, but now he runs the 5k. His goal is to complete it in under 30 minutes.
“I love the energy,” Rodriguez said. “I like when they have the AIDS memorial blanket, or the quilt. It adds another dimension to the walk. I love that everyone’s there for different reasons but supporting the same cause. Everyone has a different connection to it.”
AFC coordinates the Getting to Zero Illinois Project with the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health. The project is a state-wide initiative to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. AFC and Center on Halsted provide HIV testing and resources through the HIV resource hub.
“We see fewer and fewer diagnoses every year, but we’re not seeing the changes that we want to see across all communities,” Koehlinger said, citing how HIV disproportionately impacts Black, Latinx, trans, gay, and bisexual communities. “I also think we’ve seen some greater appreciation of how stigma can very much drive this epidemic. And while we’re certainly not out of the woods as it relates to stigma, I think folks who have been brave to be out openly living with HIV have broken down a lot of barriers.”
Chris Pazdernik got involved with the AIDS Run & Walk in 2014, just five years after they were diagnosed with HIV in 2009. Together with their co-captain, Missy Aguilar, they have led a team for the event ever since.
“I was on the CTA of all places, and saw an ad for the AIDS walk, and thought, “Now that I am in a better place, I’d really like to give back to the community that helped me so much when I was dealing with my diagnoses,’” Pazdernik said.
On their birthday, Pazdernik, who has many ties to the Chicago theater community, puts together a fundraiser called “Belting for Life.” All the proceeds from the tickets go towards a good cause. For the past two years, it’s benefited AFC.
“The walk itself is one of my favorite days of the year,” Pazdernik said. “Because it’s the one day where it feels like the success that we’ve made as a community and the dignity of people living with HIV are all being celebrated rather than being kept a secret. That always feels like a million bucks to be there on the day and see so many people out in support of advocating, and building awareness, around HIV and AIDS.”