AIDS' Danger Restated During Florida Walk for Life

For the second year in a row, a disappointing crowd gathered Saturday in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., for the annual AIDS Walk for Life -- leaving organizers wondering whether the event will survive another year. About 500 people participated in the 12th annual walk -- about half the number that came last year. Event organizers hoped to match last year's fund- raising total of about $75,000. Similar walks were canceled in Fort Lauderdale and Miami this year, said Tracy Lesperance, development director for the event sponsor, the Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County Inc. "We're the only walks in South Florida this year," Lesperance said. "But this could be our last year." Lesperance and others pointed to public apathy and ignorance as reasons preventing more people from supporting the cause.

"People don't think AIDS is deadly anymore," said Martha Brown of Delray Beach, who walked for the first time. "But I don't want to focus on the people who aren't here. I'd rather focus on the people who are here." Palm Beach County ranks third in the state in AIDS cases, and Florida ranks third in the nation in HIV/AIDS cases. More than 3,500 people in the county are living with the disease, and another 1,400 have tested positive for HIV.

Kathy Wickwire of Delray Beach said she came to the 1.5-mile walk to show solidarity for the cause. She said she's concerned that legislators might be as complacent as the public and stop funding organizations that serve HIV/AIDS patients and educate young people. About 25 members of student government from Olympic Heights High School, west of Boca Raton, joined Saturday's walk, after first raising about $1,200. Senior Jacob O'Brien, 17, said AIDS education and prevention is not stressed enough at school. "AIDS is an increasingly dangerous epidemic, and I think everyone should get involved to try to fight it," he said.

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