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FPC holds second annual aids walk

by Amy Marie Santana
Exchange Staff Writer

     The second annual AIDS walk was held this past Sunday, April 2^nd and exceeded its financial goal, raising $1,418.41.
   
     The walk was organized by Community Service staff member Kaitlyn Llewellyn, who is a senior at Franklin Pierce.  "It was unsuccessful in terms of participation, but successful financially," said Llewellyn. 

     Of the 66 people who signed up to walk, only 15 actually showed up.  "We were really lucky.  The people who participated raised a lot of money," she said. 

     The event raised $418.41 more than the amount required to reach its goal of $1,000. 

     The walk was held in the bubble, where participants showed up and decided how far they would walk.  Michelle Durand, a student who participated in the walk last year, looked forward to the event because of its success last year.  "It was unfortunate that there was such a lack of participation this year," said Durand.  "It's an important cause because there are so many people suffering [from AIDS] and every little [donation] counts."       

     The event was kicked off by speaker Arné Grandell, an HIV positive member of the AIDS Services of the Monadnock Region, commonly referred to as the ASMR. The ASMR also provided free AIDS testing in the Clubhouse between the hours of 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., which according to Llewellyn, no one took advantage of.  

     Proceeds from this year's AIDS Walk went to Caps for Kids, a community service program that raises money for kids suffering from AIDS in Africa.  "I chose to donate the money to helping the AIDS epidemic in Africa because although AIDS is a huge problem in the United States, I feel that the problem is worse in Africa," said Llewellyn. 

     In these places where children suffer from AIDS it is likely the children will die because they have to be breast fed, therefore contracting the disease from the mother.  In cases such as this, the only other option would be for the child to die of hunger rather than contracting AIDS from the mother's breast milk.  

     Assistant Director for Community Service, and the Advisor to the walk, Marabeth Farmer said, "It was wonderful that one of our staff members chose to go 'above and beyond' by planning for a cause to raise additional money for a project that she feels passionately about."

     Llewellyn is the program coordinator for Caps for Kids, as well as for Keene Community Kitchen, a community service program in which FPC students volunteer at a soup kitchen twice a month.