On the morning of Sunday, October 13, thousands of people gathered in West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles to walk two miles in the fight against the AIDS epidemic. This event has worked for decades to bring communities one step closer to the end of HIV/AIDS. 

Last weekend, the members of Ayala’s Key Club attended the 40th annual AIDS walk in Los Angeles. Founded in 1985, the AIDS walk’s purpose is to raise awareness and inform others about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Four thousand people walked that day four decades ago, and last Sunday, communities came together once more to stand against AIDS, raising more than 1 million dollars.

Originally starting as a protest against a government that ignored and neglected the communities affected by this epidemic, it was started by frustrated advocates that would no longer take being overlooked.

“[Los Angeles AIDS Walk was] founded by a group of passionate individuals who came together to provide information, comfort, care, and advocacy for those literally dying around them,” Craig Thompson, the CEO of Aids Project Los Angeles (APLA), said. 

APLA, the organization behind the AIDS Walk, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential services for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1983, APLA focuses on advocacy efforts aimed at reducing stigma and influencing public policies related to HIV/AIDS. 

The first monumental walk was initiated by Craig Miller and its success was unparalleled. He was able to mobilize a community that felt abandoned by the government during the height of the AIDS epidemic. As a leader and visionary, Miller’s passion for advocacy inspired many to join him with his efforts in the face of an overwhelming crisis. 

“Not only did the first AIDS Walk Los Angeles raise an unprecedented amount of money for services for people with AIDS, it served as a public platform, a wake-up call to governments that we could not ignore the immense suffering in our community,” said Thompson.

The AIDS Walk Los Angeles was and always has been a significant cultural event, and now, forty years later, APLA remains committed to its original mission and the pursuit of a cure. This year’s theme, “We’re Not Walking Back,” is increasingly prudent, as APLA highlights the remarkable progress made over the years and is a testament to the importance of spreading factual information in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“I’m walking forward with APLA because we’re not walking back,” Craig Miller, founder of the LA AIDS walk, said.

The AIDS walk remains vital today, especially as misconceptions run amok. Just as in the past, raising awareness and spreading the truth is essential in the ongoing efforts to achieve a cure. 

“I feel like it’s really important to support these types of causes, to amplify them so that we can end the stigma and dispel the misinformation,” Sirlex Kennedy, a participant in this year’s AIDS walk, said.

The AIDS Walk serves as a major fundraising event that enables the organization to support their comprehensive services. The walk brings together community members, supporters, and advocates to raise both funds and awareness. By supporting thousands each year, APLA uses the power of community to support ongoing efforts in HIV/AIDS care and education.

As participants gathered this year, the welcoming and hopeful atmosphere was palpable as everyone gathered ready to show their support. Many came to celebrate the efforts made towards HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment while also recognizing the work that lies ahead. 

“I love seeing everybody here, the happy faces, all of the awareness, and just the joy,” Laura Cooley, a participant in the walk this year, said.

The communities that come together and make this event possible are the heart of the whole event. Happy faces, excited dogs, loud music, and the overall celebration of this event, despite the troubling past it faced, emphasizes the walk’s original purpose, to show that no one is alone whilst fighting AIDS.

All passionate individuals gathered last weekend showed up with spirit and love, representing the solidarity that the AIDS Walk represents. Their commitment to the cause was evident in every smile and moments shared, reflecting the camaraderie built. Whether walking alone or with friends, each person contributed to a powerful sense of togetherness. Together, these walkers celebrated not only the progress gained, but also the community made. 

“It’s important to be passionate about something,” Cooley said. “It’s important to give back to our community, to care about people other than ourselves and to make the world just a little bit better in some way.”