Montreal walkathon fights HIV stigma

Thousands walked through the streets of downtown Montreal today to raise money and awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

TheFarhaFoundation held its22ndAMARCHEwalkathonin support of the more than 20,000 people living with the virus in Quebec.

It attracted about 3,000 people, each with a unique reason for coming out.

Some have been marching for HIV/AIDS awareness since a Montreal fashion industry executive RonFarhastarted the foundation before he died of the disease in 1993.

MelodieHicks is a nursing professor atVaniercollege who brought her students to the walk ahead of an exchange program toMalawi, a country where about 10 per cent of the population are HIV-positive.

There they will see AIDS and how AIDS is absolutely still devastating has devastated families and complete populations, said Hicks.

For many around the world [AIDS is] something that is not considered a chronic illness, it is a death sentence.

Prevention and education

Organizers say raising money is important, but it is also crucial to help people recognize that unlike inMalawi, HIV/AIDS in Quebec is often a chronic illness that is not terminal.

The seven kilometremarch wound its way through downtown before ending in Placemilie-Gamelinfor a celebration.

Since 1992, theFarhaFoundation has distributed close to $9.3 million to 76 organizations throughout Quebec that provide services to HIV/AIDS victims, as well as HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs.