2008 Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life: Alberta Throwdown

According to the most recent statistics available from the Public Health Agency of Canada, approximately 58,000 Canadians are currently living with HIV/AIDS, with about 2,000 reported cases in the Edmonton region.

This year, Edmonton is also battling to win the Alberta Throwdown. AIDS Calgary has challenged Edmonton to see which city has the biggest heart. The AIDS agency in the city that raises the most money through the Walk will carry the title of 'conqueror' and make the losing agency perform a series of embarrassing and ego-altering activities.

The Alberta Throwdown is all in fun, but the Walk for Life is extremely important. "This day is about sharing knowledge and information about HIV to prevent further infections. It's also about providing hope, through our fundraising efforts, to the many Edmontonians who are currently living with or affected by HIV," says Debra Jakubec, Executive Director, HIV Edmonton.

All fundraising revenues collected will stay in the community to support HIV Edmonton. Proceeds enable them to continue to offer prevention and education programs, as well as treatment, care and support for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Last year, 244 participants helped raise $66,500 in our community.

Jeff Keller, Board Chair, HIV Edmonton, is walking to raise funds for HIV Edmonton and increase awareness of the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. A local lawyer, Keller is a prominent member of the provincial and national AIDS movements. "HIV has not stopped me! For 13 years, the virus has only made me fight harder to battle discrimination to ensure we all live with dignity no matter who we are and how we got infected," he says. "With the support of HIV Edmonton, we are slowly winning the battle, but we are not done yet."

National Sponsors

Title:             Scotiabank
Platinum:          Investors Group, Molson, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Gold:              Gilead
Silver:            Pfizer
Bronze:            Merck Frosst
Official Courier:  Canpar
Media Partners:    Cineplex Media, MacLean's Magazine, Marketwire, Outlooks
                   Magazine, Zoom Media

Local Sponsors

Platinum:          Vue Weekly, Gilead
Gold:
Silver:            Merck Frosst, Alberta Dental Association & College,
                   Venture Publishing, Urban Bridge Church, GayCalgary and
                   Edmonton magazine, Planet Organic, Starbucks
Bronze:            Magic 99, Rainbow Cinemas/Magic Lantern Cinemas, prana
                   holistic
In Kind:           College Copy, Mountain Park Lodges, World Health Club,
                   Art Gallery of Alberta, Main Staple, Jasper Brew Pub,
                   Marmot Basin, The Citadel, Pizza 73, West Edmonton Mall,
                   Soho Grafiks & Desktop Solutions, Oxygen Products Ltd.,
                   Great Canadian Dollar & Party Store, Mayfield Inn &
                   Suites, IKON Office Solutions Inc.
Kilometre:         Laurie Hawn, MP Edmonton Centre, HiQSoft, Peterson Walker
                   LLP, Miller Thomson LLP, plumbheavy

About HIV Edmonton

HIV Edmonton is a charitable non-profit organization incorporated in 1986 and founded in 1984 by a group of concerned, proactive friends, families and allies of people with HIV. It has grown from a completely volunteer-driven organization into a regional support system of core staff and more than 170 members, volunteers, partners, sponsors and donors dedicated to supporting each other, educating the public, raising funds for research and advocating for better services for people with HIV.

Website: www.edmontonaidswalk.com