Chicago's annual AIDS Run/Walk, "Fight Complacency," will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Museum Campus, Columbus Drive and Roosevelt Road, just south of Grant Park.
Registration materials, including information on forming teams for this year's 5K run/walk, can be obtained by visiting www.aidschicago.org or calling ( 773 ) 868-3010. Registration brochures are also available at local Walgreen's and Starbucks. In addition to a 5K run, a 5K walk and course route entertainment, the event will also feature a "Health Expo" where 20-plus local HIV/AIDS organizations will have booths.
The Fight Complacency theme was chosen to bring awareness to HIV/AIDS education and prevention issues. It also seeks to highlight the fact that many local HIV/AIDS service organizations are being adversely impacted by decreased state revenues and, subsequently, budget cutbacks.
Proceeds from this year's AIDS Run/Walk Chicago will again benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's grant-making program. Since 1988, AFC has provided more than $11 million to area HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy groups.
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In a show of bipartisan political support, 10 Republicans and 15 Democrats have signed on as members of the honorary committee for Chicago's annual AIDS Run/Walk.
Honorary chair of the event is Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Members of the 2002 AIDS Run/Walk Chicago honorary committee are:
U.S. Congress: Sen. Dick Durbin ( D ) ; Rep. Rod Blagojevich ( D ) ; Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. ( D ) ; Rep. Mark Kirk ( R ) ; and Rep. Jan Schakowsky ( D )
Illinois General Assembly Members: State Senate: John Cullerton ( D-Chicago ) ; Debbie Halvorson ( D-Chicago Heights ) ; Kathleen Parker ( R-Northfield ) ; William Peterson ( R-Buffalo Grove ) ; Christine Radogno ( R-La Grange ) ; Steve Rauschenberger ( R-Elgin ) ; Carol Ronen ( D-Chicago ) ; and Thomas Walsh ( R-Westchester ) . State Representatives: Mark H. Beaubin ( R-Barrington Hills ) ; Elizabeth Coulson ( R-Glenview ) ; Tom Dart ( D-Chicago ) ; Sara Feigenholtz ( D-Chicago ) ; Jack Franks ( D-Woodstock ) ; John A. Fritchey ( D-Chicago ) ; Doug Hoeft ( R-Elgin ) ; Lou Lang ( D-Skokie ) ; Larry McKeon ( D-Chicago ) ; Timothy Osmond ( R-Antioch ) ; and Karen Yarbrough ( D-Maywood )
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More than 20 organizations are scheduled to participate in a Health Expo to be held at Chicago's AIDS Run/Walk, including: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House, Asian Human Services, Inc., Centro San Bonifacio, Chicago Women's AIDS Project, Children's Place Association, The CORE Center, The Faces of AIDS Project, Haymarket Center, HIV/AIDS Project of the Legal Assistance Foundation, Horizons Community Services, Mount Sinai Hospital, The Night Ministry, Open Hand Chicago, Project VIDA, South Suburban HIV/AIDS Regional Coalition, and Vision House.
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The Hearts Foundation post-event T-dance celebration is at Transit, 1431 W. Lake St., music starts at 4 p.m. DJs Billy Carroll and Dr. K. Benefits Chicago House, Open Hand and TransGENESIS. Call ( 773 ) 244-6000.
