Thousands show support for HIV and AIDS prevention and awareness

It was perfect weather for the thousands of people who turned out in support of HIV and AIDS prevention at Saturday morning’s Desert AIDS Walk.

The Desert AIDS Project has been hosting this walk for 28 years in an effort to stop the further spread of HIV.

Advocates said there was a time when HIV and AIDS weren’t this widely accepted.

“We’re finally getting to an age of common sense and putting stigma behind us. Unfortunately the HIV virus has been with us for more than 30 years now but it doesn’t need to be with us forever,” said Susan Unger the Get Tested Coachella Valley project director.

Some people with the virus said they remember when having HIV was a death sentence.

“I’ve been positive for over 30 years now and, you know, when I was diagnosed there wasn’t the treatment we have and my friends and people in the HIV and AIDS community were dying at a very rapid rate,” said Greg Rodriguez, the Get Tested Cochella Valley operations manager.

Now advocates said the focus is on stopping the spread of the virus.

“Today medications are so good that if they get tested and get on medication they become 96 percent less infectious,” Unger said.

Organizers said the number of people out in support of the walk shows the impact of the Palm Springs community.

“It’s an acknowledgement that HIV is not over and that our community in the Coachella Valley is committed to ending the spread of HIV in our lifetime,” said David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO.

Walkers, or in some cases runners, said they’re happy to show their support any way they can.

“I feel great. It’s so great to be a part of this community event and even though it wasn’t a race we both needed a workout and we wanted to participate,” said Diana Bell, from Palm Springs.

Advocates are now hoping for a cure, but until then they said the most practical prevention is to get tested.

Brinkman said Saturday’s event raised more than $300,000.