Rhode Island Walk for Life Benefits AIDS Project RI

About six hundred participants gathered on the south lawn of the Rhode Island State House in Providence on Saturday, September 27, for AIDS Project Rhode Island's 29th annual Walk for Life. The 2.5-mile walk raises thousands of dollars for the agency's programs and services, as well as other AIDS service organizations around the state.

One of the featured speakers at the event was David Gonsalves, a chair of the AIDS clinical trials advisory board at The Miriam Hospital, who recalled how having HIV was "my private prison."

Gonsalves, a 52-year-old resident of Central Falls, has been HIV-positive for the last 30 years. He said he was advised to get tested for HIV after "an unfortunate tragic act of violence" in 1984. He discovered he had HIV.

"I realized the importance of knowing my status," Gonsalves said. Fear of death pervaded his daily life. He wondered how much time he had left, saying, "It was one of the most devastating things for me." Gonsalves also recalled the "stigma of shame and loneliness" of living with HIV in a time when society considered AIDS a gay disease.

Gonsalves said most people who engage in risky sexual practices are afraid to get tested for HIV. Young people are being "disproportionately affected" by HIV infections, he noted.

"This is unacceptable and dangerous," Gonsalves said, adding society needs to reach out to every community through education, outreach and networking.

Another speaker was Philip Chan, M.D., an HIV specialist at Miriam Hospital. Chan was also a co-chair of this year's Walk. Chan also urged people to get tested for HIV at least once.

"We all need to work together to get to zero cases in Rhode Island," Chan said.

Paul Fitzgerald, executive director of AIDS Care Ocean State, noted 44 percent of all HIV infections were among African Americans.

"This plague is not over," said Fitzgerald. "We have a lot of work to do."

Congressman David Cicilline praised the work of organizations such as APRI and AIDS Care Ocean State for their HIV prevention and education programs.

HIV/AIDS is "a very serious public health challenge," Cicilline said.

Other speakers included Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Raimondo, who thanked the state's AIDS service organizations for their efforts to promote awareness about HIV.

"Let's continue with research and education so we can continue to move forward," Raimondo said.

Rhode Island College President Dr. Nancy Carriuolo was the first president of a college or university to speak at the event in recent memory.

Carriuolo was an honorary chair of the event and previously served on the board of the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation, which provides support to families of those with HIV/AIDS.

Kayla Wingert, a student activist at Johnson & Wales University, said young people need to be educated about HIV. And NBC10's news anchor Alison Bologna served as emcee.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 3,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Rhode Island. Seventy three percent of persons living with HIV/AIDS are male.

The CDC also estimates that around 1.3 million adults and adolescents are living with HIV in the USA, including those not yet diagnosed, and including those who have already progressed to AIDS. More than half a million people have died after developing AIDS.

Approximately 50,000 people are newly infected with HIV each year in the U.S., and 21 percent of people living with HIV are undiagnosed.

The theme for this year's event was Do it Right, reflecting the theme of the HIV/STD prevention campaign kicked off in June by AIDS Project Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Health, The Miriam Hospital, and the Rhode Island Public Health Institute.

There was free, anonymous rapid HIV testing available at the walk. The Walk for Life was sponsored by Cardi's Furniture, United Healthcare Community Health Plan, the city of Providence, the Miriam Hospital, the Providence Phoenix, NBC10, Walgreens, Poder 1110 radio, Coast 93.3 radio, Latino Public Radio, CVS Health, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence Gay Men's Chorus, Options and the AIDS Quilt.

AIDS Project Rhode Island offers case management, mental health and substance abuse treatment and safety net services, such as emergency rental and utility payments. The organization also offers a meal site and a drop-in center.

The Project operates an HIV testing program, Take Charge! Get Tested!, to help Rhode Islanders learn their HIV status in a safe, comfortable, and private environment.

The Project administers Ryan White Title II funded services to HIV+ individuals whose income levels fall at or below 40 percent of federal poverty guidelines.