UCSD Team Raises nearly $3,800 at AIDS Walk San Diego

By Jan Jennings I October 31, 2005

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox takes to the road in support of HIV/AIDS

Raising money for HIV/AIDS is a very personal campaign for Joseph Toledo, a financial analyst in neurosciences. This year, he raised nearly $1,400 participating in the 16th annual AIDS Walk San Diego held Oct. 2 in Balboa Park.

Toledo was one of 33 on the UCSD team of students, faculty, staff, and administration - including Chancellor Marye Anne Fox - who walked and together raised nearly $3,800. (An additional undetermined number from UCSD showed up to walk but did not register for the team)

AIDS Walk San Diego raises nearly a half million dollars each year to support HIV and AIDS service providers in the county. Approximately 10,000 runners, walkers, and volunteers participated in the 2005 event, which ran from 7 a.m. to noon and included a post-walk festival with live entertainment, music, a Kids Fun Zone, food, and merchant booths.

AIDS Walk San Diego also included a display of AIDS Memorial Quilt panels and a "Path of Remembrance" honoring the memories of loved ones lost to AIDS.

Raising money for HIV/AIDS is personal to Toledo because he lost a brother to AIDS eleven years ago. Since then, he has been participating in AIDS Walk San Diego. Toledo sends letters and e-mails to his friends, colleagues, and co-workers explaining the mission and requesting their support for his walk.

"I have been asking for donations for HIV/AIDS for so many years and people know it means a great deal to me," says Toledo. "I am really touched by the generosity."

Toledo's goal this year was to raise $1,000 - which he quickly met and surpassed - and he says that pledges are still coming in.

Toledo was one of the UCSD Team faithfuls who invited Chancellor Fox to join the team and walk. He says he made the 5K (3.1 mile) walk in about 45 minutes, talking with other walkers along the way and taking 113 pictures. He and all teammates wore UCSD T-shirts.

Next highest on the UCSD team in fundraising was Neil Spears, a UCSD senior and president of Students Raising AIDS Awareness, who raised more than $600.

Many walkers carried signs remembering family members and friends. According to Shawn Ingram, director of development for the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, who was among the walkers, the walk was a time for "thinking and sharing and remembering. " It was warm and personal and at the same time "it was very serious and we know that we need to keep walking until a cure can be found."

According to the Institute of Medicine, the costs associated with providing and caring for one HIV positive individual average about $22,000 per year, with even higher expenses for those with more advanced HIV-related illness.