AIDS Walk raises funds to end HIV epidemic, provide health equity – Desert Sun
Sheltered by the San Jacinto Mountains to the west and blessed with a cloudless sky and sunshine that punctuated the importance of the day, nearly 2,000 supporters gathered at 8 a.m. at Ruth Hardy Park for DAP Health‘s 2021 Desert AIDS Walk, whose mission it was to end HIV/AIDS while funding health equity to the Coachella Valley’s disenfranchised.
This event was canceled in 2020 because of COVID, so those assembled were delighted about the in-person return of this fundraising event. More than 600 supporters on 71 teams from throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond, some with pets, walked 3-and-a-half miles through Palm Springs, both to raise funds and to increase awareness that work must continue to treat those living with HIV/AIDS.
DAP Health CEO David Brinkman shared his thoughts about the day: “This year marks the 40th year of the first reported cases that would become recognized and known as HIV and AIDS. We remember all of those friends, families and others unknown to us whom we have lost over the past 40 years. We recommit ourselves to ending this epidemic. We come together in brotherhood and sisterhood to come together to help our community achieve health equity.”
Presenting sponsor Desert Care Network‘s chief strategy officer for community advocacy and Mayor of La Quinta Linda Evans explained the importance of the day: “It is special because we are gathering again after a year off to join a cause to fight HIV/AIDS,” she said. “It’s been a long-standing effort to raise funds to continue the effort to treat patients with HIV and to support the expansion of services provided by DAP Health. Desert Care Network has been a long-standing partner, donating over $5 million to DAP Health to help fund the Get Tested Coachella Valley, support its capital expansion that will enable DAP Health to serve more people and to participate in the AIDS Walk as the presenting sponsor.” Desert Care Network consists of Desert Regional Medical Center, Hi-Desert Medical Center and JFK Medical Hospital.
Other community leaders agreed. Brad Fuhr, a community activist, general manager of KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs and CEO of Gay Desert Guide was excited to see “everyone getting back together in an outdoor setting where we feel safe to greet each other and celebrate this wonderful community.” Brian Wanzek (aka Bella da Ball) shared how thrilled he was to participate. “I have been stage managing this event for over six years,” he said. “It is a fabulous organization bringing together all these terrific people who support DAP Health to provide services to HIV/AIDS and marginalized people.”
Breakfast and coffee were provided by Koffi, and lunch was provided by Sysco. Hot Purple Energy powered the main stage with its solar truck. To prepare the walkers, yoga, Pilates and cardio exercises were provided by Urban Yoga and G-Force Workout, led by certified personal trainer Ted Guice and Club Pilates. Guice created the grassroots fitness group that begun during the pandemic and now boasts 585 members. His free workouts at Ruth Hardy Park kept the community active and connected during COVID with 60-100 participants each morning. At the conclusion of the exercises, the teams left the area to begin their walk.
The Top 10
The top 10 fundraisers, raising $74,288 total, included, in rank order: DAP Health board chair Patrick Jordan, DAP Health chief development and strategy officer Darrell Tucci, Robert Parrish, Jeffrey Norman, Art Gregorire, Brinkman, Jerald Miller, DAP Health director of development James Lindquist, DAP Health board member Scott Nevins and Michael Taylor Gray.
The top 10 teams, raising $153,935, included, in a rank order: PS Properties, Sordid Lives, Development Divas, Partners for Life, Modern Men Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus, Friends of Barbara Keller, Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Legs Miserables, John and Ryan Real Estate Group, Community Health and Orange Clinic – The Dream Team.
The overall goal to raise $350,000 was exceeded by raising more than $400,786. These funds support DAP Health to continue to provide HIV prevention and specialty care services in addition to STI screening and treatment, housing support, benefits navigation, medical, dental, behavioral healthcare, pre-exposure prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis and HIV and Hepatitis C testing and treatment.
Event Sponsors
The event’s presenting sponsor was Desert Care Network. The health & wellness sponsor was Walgreens. Major sponsors included Gilead, Grace Helen Spearmen Charitable Foundation, NBC Palm Springs and The Desert Sun. Other Sponsors were CV Independent, Gay Desert Guide, KGAY, Promo Homo TV, Rage Monthly and Revivals Stores.
A personal connection to HIV and DAP Health
I joined the AIDS Walk in support of DAP Health because of the services the organization provides. My first partner, Denis Resseguie, died in 1981 at age 29, just as the first HIV/AIDS cases began to appear. His doctor suggested one day that Resseguie might have this new disease that was appearing in gay men because they were unable to get a handle on the cancer from which he died.
My second partner, Alan Loiacano, died of AIDS in 1992, when only AZT was available, which was ineffective in his case. My husband of 26 years, Marc Byrd, well known in the Coachella Valley, lived with HIV for more than 30 years. At some point, depression set in and he stopped taking his medication. Friends and family all missed the signs of his depression and as a result, he did not get the support he needed. He died in August 2018 of some type of pneumonia that the doctors were unable to treat because they could not determine the type. However, it was clear that his HIV and the absence of the 19 daily medications he had been taking for more than 30 years contributed to his health decline.
When David Brinkman approached me for support in naming the mental health clinic the Marc Byrd Behavioral Health Clinic, I jumped at the chance to donate the naming gift. And I thank everyone who also supported this naming opportunity. All too frequently, depression is a hidden illness from one’s family, friends and partners. We all must be alert to depression that may affect our closest friends and family and support them in seeking the support they need, whether at DAP Health’s behavioral health clinic or elsewhere.
Al Jones was appointed by the city council as a Trustee of the Palm Springs Library, where he serves as its treasurer. He was the former chairman of the Palm Springs International Airport Commission and is a member of the board of directors of Dezart Performs, the CSU Palm Desert Campus Advancement board, the Advisory board of Priority One Coachella Valley and a member of DBA and Main Street. Prior community engagement includes DAP Health Partners for Life Leadership Committee; the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, where he served as the Board secretary for five years, and Sanctuary Palm Springs.