For the past 10 years The Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Society (OAAS) has been providing HIV and AIDS education, prevention, and awareness information to the seven First Nations communities and to the three Friendship Centers located in the Okanagan Valley. With continuing determination to prevent future HIV-related infections within the Okanagan Aboriginal community, OAAS is proud to announce the 3rd Annual Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Walk.
Right now, Aboriginal people living in British Columbia represent 5% of the Province’s total population but, shockingly, represent three times that number in prevalent HIV infections. It is estimated that in BC, approximately one Aboriginal person tests positive for HIV every week. Worse yet, almost 30% of newly diagnosed HIV infections are among Aboriginal youth. In Canada, it costs an estimated $1.2 million to treat and care for one person living with HIV and AIDS over their lifetime. Fortunately, HIV is 100% preventable with education and awareness. All proceeds generated at this event will benefit the Aboriginal community to support local HIV prevention efforts; including an Okanagan Youth HIV Prevention & Awareness Campaign.
To ensure maximum participation, OAAS will continue to partner with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and will host the Walk in conjunction with the Okanagan Nation’s Salmon Feast Weekend located at the Okanagan Falls Provincial Park on September 17, 2011. This event is open to the public and is particularly popular with the Aboriginal community, where approximately 500 people a day are expected to attend.
The 3rd Annual Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Walk will take place at Okanagan Falls Provincial Park on September 17, 2011 with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the Walk beginning at 11 a.m. Walkers will have a choice of completing a 1 km, 2 km, or 4 km walk, jog, or run for this worthwhile cause.
We will have prizes available for our “top fundraisers” in various categories. In addition to the “top fundraiser” prizes, door prizes will also be distributed at the end of the walk. Pledge forms are available on our website at www.oaas.ca or you may also pick up pledge forms at your local band office or health centre.
For those who wish to support the Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Walk, but cannot attend the Walk site on September 17, you may still contribute to the fundraising effort by downloading a pledge form at www.oaas.ca and sending along your pledge form and monies with another participant who will be walking with us in OK Falls Provincial Park on September 17, 2011. For more information about the Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Walk, please call 1-778-754-5595 or log on to our website www.oaas.ca.