Thousands walked through the streets of Montreal Saturday to raise funds and awareness in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
An estimated 4,000 people showed up for the 22nd annual Ça Marche seven-kilometre walkathon, organized by the Farha Foundation, which was launched by businessman Ron Farha before he died of AIDS in 1993.
But there were about 1,000 fewer participants than last year. “The real issue is that the disease is no longer an issue,” said Linda Farha, Ron’s sister and the foundation’s spokesperson.
New medications transformed the virus from a death sentence to a chronic disease, she said, which means people are living longer and that’s the good news.
But the fight is far from over, Farha said. About 20,000 Quebecers are living with virus and new cases are diagnosed daily.
“We’re no longer hearing shock stories of people dying young,” Farha said. Also, nearly a third of those infected don’t know they are HIV positive — and they are not getting tested, she added.
This year the Foundation made a special effort to educate high school students about prevention. It’s crucial to reach youth, a group that knows little about AIDS, she said.
“It’s the generation who may live to be the next generation without AIDS,” she added.
The walk raised about $250,000 but the goal of the campaign is to raise $400,000 by the end the year, in time for Maskarade, the annual ball held in February.
The foundation distributed nearly $9.3 million to 76 organizations across Quebec that provide education and prevention programs as well as direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS, from housing and medication to food and palliative care.
