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Local News
17th Walk for Life on the 17th
For the first time since 1992, the Utah AIDS Foundation is holding its annual 10K Walk for Life in September, a move designed to overcome declining participation.
“We’ve always been [holding the Walk] the week after gay pride. Gay pride has gotten so big, which is wonderful, that it’s kind of a lot to ask people to participate in an event the following weekend,” Utah AIDS Foundation executive director Stan Penfold said. “There is a lot of excitement about moving it back to the fall. It’ll be cooler, which is nice. We’re also moving it back to the morning. We had been doing it in the evening for a few years.”
Another advantage of the Sept. 17 date is the 9th and 9th Street Festival, where the walk will end. Hosted by the East Liberty Park Community Organization (ELPCO), the 9th & 9th Festival began in 1993 to celebrate the spirit and diversity of the 9th & 9th neighborhood. The free event will include food, artists’ booths and live performances all day. The Walk itself will also feature entertainment.
“One of the things that’s unique about our Walk is that you never know when you’ll come upon a band or a juggler,” Penfold said.
Current registration is on track for an estimated 500 to 1000 walkers. Many families and businesses, such as the Gap and KRCL, also put together teams of walkers who pool their pledges and provide additional visibility. There are prizes for both teams and individuals who raise the most money, with a “500 Club” party for all individuals who raise over $500.
Penfold expects the Walk to raise $40,000 to $60,000, which the Utah AIDS Foundation will spread among all its programs, including the food bank, HIV testing and social support groups.
This year’s Walk will be particularly special for Utah AIDS Foundation staff as the organization honors 20 years of care. Penfold began at the Utah AIDS Foundation as a volunteer in the 1980s, progressing to associate director and then executive director in 1998.
Reflecting on his years of AIDS activism, Penfold sees a need to combat new complacency about HIV. “Participation has been declining over the years at AIDS walks across the country. There’s a sense that it’s not as urgent as it used to be. There are a couple of challenges. One component is the mixed blessing of HIV meds. They’re amazing for people who have HIV. HIV is still a terminal illness, but it’s more manageable. With that is a perception that you can pop some pills and you’re fine. People don’t see the side effects or the expense of having, basically, a long-term terminal illness. Also, a person who is 20 years old today has grown up their entire life in a world with HIV. HIV is a normalized risk.”
Penfold hopes that the visibility of the Walk for Life will overcome some of this complacency. “There is this real denial about risk, and there is also this perception that people can tell [who has HIV]. The reality is that there is no way you can tell if someone has HIV short of an HIV test. We have to recommit to prevention. There is no miracle vaccine on the horizon, and people still get sick on meds. People still die on meds. Prevention is where we need to focus.”
The Utah AIDS Foundation Walk for Life will take place on Sept. 17. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 8:00 a.m. and the walk officially beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Liberty Park. The cost is $25 for individuals, $10 for pets; kids 12 and under are free. Participants can register before the Walk as well. The route is flat and appropriate for seniors. All pledges are tax-deductible. More information is available at utahaids.org.
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