20th Annual Heart & Sole Aids Walk October 2
With Budget Cuts and No Cure, Fundraising Remains Crucial
Pacific Pride Foundation is hosting the 20th Annual Heart & Sole AIDS Walk on Saturday, October 2 at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the 10K AIDS Walk starts at 10 a.m. Mayor Helene Schneider, Congresswoman Lois Capps and Santa Barbara City Council Member Das Williams will help honor the 20th year with impassioned pleas to support those infected and affected by HIV & AIDS in Santa Barbara County.
Pacific Pride Executive Director, David Selberg shares, “Though our State Government has cut vital safety-net programs in AIDS testing, education and case management throughout California; this does not mean the AIDS pandemic is over or a cure is in sight. People, both young and old are still becoming infected and dying from AIDS in our County.”
Last year, the State eliminated $82 million for AIDS care and treatment across California. As a result, Pacific Pride Foundation lost over $700,000 from our budget, forcing the organization to lay off frontline staff and rework how services are delivered in our County. Santa Barbara County is already anticipating an additional $120,000 funding reduction for HIV services for next fiscal year reducing AIDS dollars to pre-1991 levels in our County.
Please visit the Pacific Pride website and follow the links to this years 20th Annual Heart & Sole AIDS Walk. Coming down to the walk and pledging yourself or having friends and coworkers walk and support you is easy and fun. See you at the beach on Saturday, October 2.