Collegian

Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Life

Walkers finishing up their first lap. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Lyndsay marvin Walkers stop for refreshments after the first lap. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Lyndsay marvin Karen Strausser preparing refreshments before the walk. [Click to enlarge]

Lorain County AIDS Taskforce has teamed up with Lorain County Community College to raise money for those in need.
The annual AIDS walk was held on Saturday, Sept. 15 at the campus. LCCC has been used before, but is now the official location for the AIDS walk. The money was raised through pledges. Chairman of the Taskforce, Ricky Allen Lanza, has been raising money for the past 20 years, but this was the tenth year for the AIDS walk.
"It's really a good thing what we are doing here," said Lanza.
The Taskforce has been looking into getting a goodwill ambassador, but Lanza's name needs to go through homeland security first. They are hoping to get one soon.
About 90 percent of proceeds go directly to people with AIDS for costly expenses such as healthcare and housing. The other 10 percent goes toward office supplies for the Taskforce. All workers are volunteers. The Taskforce is hoping to get an office space donated so they have a central location.
Lanza believes it is important to get the word out about raising money. AIDS affects people ages 19-65, and each individual benefits from the donations. He strives to help people, and holding the walk at LCCC has so far been a success. "We have come a long way," Lanza claimed.
Lanza has stressed that the AIDS Taskforce's motto is "You can't catch AIDS from hugging," because sometimes reaching out goes a long way.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools