China to Hold First AIDS Walk on Great Wall

China is planning to hold its first-ever AIDS walk fundraiser on the Great Wall next October. The 2012 walk is being organized by three nonprofit organizations: the government-backed China Population Welfare Foundation, the China Alliance for People Living with HIV/AIDS, and the Beijing Gender Health Education Institute (BGHEI).

A participant kick-off is scheduled for May. "It will be very helpful to tackle AIDS discrimination -- people will know more about AIDS through training, and they may meet people with HIV during the walk," said Wei Jiangang, head of BGHEI, adding that the first walk will be limited to about 150 participants.

"With the funds we raise, we will set up programs with hospitals that have foundations for treating HIV/AIDS patients," said Wei.

The world's first AIDS walk was held in Los Angeles in 1985. Since that time, walks have been held across the United States and Canada. Chinese organizers say they hope the event will catch on in other areas of China in the coming years.

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