Fall is in the air, so fundraising walks and runs abound this month, with opportunities to champion cancer causes as well as events to support those living with diseases such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS.
AIDS Foundation walk
First up is the 28th Annual AIDSWALK Tucson on Sunday at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave.
Staged by about 300 volunteers, the signature fundraiser for the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation seeks to raise at least $150,000 to aid in its mission of cultivating a healthy and stigma-free society through transformative action.
That action takes shape through direct services and programs that enhance the quality of life for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS — including comprehensive care services ranging from case management and clinical services to medication assistance, peer counseling, food, housing and much more — and through programs that provide public education and promote awareness about HIV infection and prevention, including free testing for HIV and hepatitis C.
“The majority of work in our prevention programs is with youth,” said Ethan Cox, director of development for the foundation. “We are dedicated to getting educational materials into their hands so they can make better decisions and choices about keeping themselves safe. It is not just about wearing a condom; it is about LGBTQ youth feeling empowered and having the space to express themselves and ask questions. We want people to have open dialogue and conversations about HIV and how it is transmitted because knowledge is power.”
Diabetes event
Empowering those who are living with diabetes is one goal of 2016 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on Oct. 30.
The impact of diabetes on the community is striking since about 700,000 Arizonans — or 13.5 percent of the population — are living with the disease, according to Dave Nevins, Tucson marketing manager for the American Diabetes Association.
The ADA estimates that more than 170,000 of those living with diabetes are unaware they have the disease and almost 1.8 million adults statewide are “pre-diabetic” with blood glucose levels higher than normal. Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination; extreme thirst, hunger or fatigue; blurry vision; weight loss; tingling, pain or numbness in hands or feet; and cuts or bruises that are slow to heal.
“We want people to meet with their doctors and be aware of signs of diabetes so hopefully they can catch it early and avoid complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, circulation problems and kidney disease. And especially if people have a history of diabetes in their families, that should cause them to be more concerned,” said Nevins.
In addition to education, the ADA Tucson office provides advocacy, support and resources for those living with the disease and their families, including Camp AZDA, a medically-supervised summer camp that served 200 youth last year in Prescott and seeks to expand in 2017.
“This is an incredible time for these kids. I have had kids share with me that this is the one week of the year where they feel normal ... it is often the first time they have been able to be away from home or away from their parents, but everyone feels confident because they have a medical staff,” said Nevins, who has Type 1 diabetes and understands the health ramifications firsthand.
Funds raised at the upcoming walk will benefit information and support service as well as advocacy and research efforts.
“We just keep trying to get our resources out there to let people know what we do. We want to try to help the community as best we can,” Nevins said.
Support cancer causes
Two other events this month focus on cancer with the Making Strides against Breast Cancer Tucson at 8 a.m. Oct. 16, and Light The Night Tucson, sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, at 5 p.m. Oct. 22. Both events take place at Kino Sports Complex. (See box on where to find more information)
