ABCLogo

Strong turnout for AIDS Walk in WeHo

By Darsha Philps, abclocal.go.com

October 17, 2010

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- The wet weather Sunday didn't keep thousands of Angelenos from filling West Hollywood streets for the 26th Annual AIDS Walk. The fundraiser spanned 6.2 miles and is expected to reel in nearly $3 million to help treat and care for those living with AIDS and HIV. Since 1985, the event has raised about $66 million for AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the largest nonprofit AIDS service organizations in the country. Various elected officials as well as celebrities were expected to partake in the walk. Event organizers said they expected a total of approximately 30,000 people to take part in the walk. "When we first started this AIDS thing, we were losing friends left and right and walking is something everybody can do and something I can still do," said Hollywood resident Don Foley, 80, who has participated in all 26 walks since the event's inception. Though many roads in and around West Hollywood will be closed or rerouted for the walk, organizers said all roads should be re-opened during the afternoon. Opening ceremonies kicked off the event around 9 a.m. in West Hollywood Park. From the park, the walk went east on Santa Monica Boulevard, south on La Cienega Boulevard, east on Melrose Avenue, south on La Brea Avenue, west on Beverly Boulevard, and finally north on San Vicente back to the park.