More than 3,000 runners, walkers, and volunteers took part in Sunday’s 13th Annual AIDS Run & Walk Chicago — a 10K run and 5K run and walk along Chicago’s Lake Shore Path — which raised over $380,000 for 32 HIV and AIDS organizations.
After the winners were announced (Alyssa Bracy and Jeremy Solomon for the 5K and Thomas Lynch and Lindsay Young for the 10K), a flash mob performance helped runner Armando Ramirez propose to his longtime boyfriend, Joel Guzman (the answer was "yes") and the racers viewed the stoic AIDS Memorial Quilt panels on display, and participated in free HIV screening at testing trucks in Arvey Field.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was on hand to kick off the event and emphasize his commitment to HIV services in the state, and he was joined by Congressman Mike Quigley, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Interim President & CEO John Peller, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Representative Greg Harris (who is himself HIV-positive and a longtime advocate for people living with HIV or AIDS).
Morning festivities also included a performance by the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in celebration of Global Female Condom Day, which is Sept. 16. Participants Danced4Demand along with the ensemble to warm up and increase awareness and availability of female condoms, and Governor Quinn marked his “demand” for female condoms on a Citywide map where attendees want to see more availability of this prevention device.
Since 2001, AIDS Run & Walk Chicago has garnered more than $4.5 million to battle the epidemic (though you can donate through the end of the year at aidsrunwalk.org).
Check out scenes from Sunday below:
