The most enjoyable part of the AIDS Walk was the fact that the new scenic route around the lakefront was so breathtaking. In years past, the AIDS Walk path had gone through the heart of downtown giving a more city, urban view to walkers.

The final tally of pledges raised for the AIDS Walk Wisconsin 2007 is $387, 682. Six large white posters showing each number were held up by volunteers at the finish line of the event that took place Saturday, Sept. 29 on the scenic Milwaukee lakefront.

The 5K AIDS Walk raises money for AIDS prevention and treatment. The main benefiting agency of the event is AIDS Resource of Wisconsin, which provides a vast array of health and social services to over 3,000 Wisconsin residents living with HIV. They also make 150,000 prevention contacts every year with people who are at risk for contracting HIV.

The weather was absolutely perfect for the fifteenth anniversary of the event that began at the Summerfest grounds Saturday morning. It was a beautiful autumn day, complete with leaves falling from the trees. Participants sported light windbreakers over their white AIDS WALK t-shirts.

After turning in my pledges at the concession stand, young dancers dressed in white immediately caught my eye from off in the distance. As I walked closer to their performance area I saw that these were dancers from a local studio performing a pre-show for the event. They performed songs by Earth, Wind & Fire and Whitney Houston that tied in themes of hope, love and fighting for equal rights.

These themes continued throughout the event when the opening ceremonies took place on the Miller Lite Main Stage. Two Wisconsinites living with AIDS gave speeches. One of these speakers was Bob Bowers aka Da Pirate. Bowers travels around the country and speaks out about living with HIV / AIDS.

“With over two decades of surviving with this disease it is indeed a great honor to be asked to come back and kick off this event,” Bowers said.

He also reminded the crowd of the fact that in 2006 not one baby in Wisconsin was born with HIV/AIDS. “What a milestone,” he said.

As Washington counted down to the walk beginning, the Brew City Beerleaders, a mix of male/female cheerleaders from Chicago, performed a cheer that ended with tons of confetti blowing out from above the stage that showered walk participants. Shouts and laughter arose from the crowd and with that the walk began.

The most enjoyable part of the AIDS Walk was the fact that the new scenic route around the lakefront was so breathtaking. In years past, the AIDS Walk path had gone through the heart of downtown giving a more city, urban view to walkers.

An added touch to this years walk was that dogs were allowed to take part in the event. An array of pet owners took advantage of the new rule and dressed up their dogs in pink, red and multi-color dog clothing.

Just as some dogs were decked out in costume, numerous organizations walking for the event did just the same. The Riverside Tigers, a local Milwaukee high school, had participants all dressed in black and orange.

They constantly chanted, “Let’s go Tigers!” and held posters and signs high from start to the finish line. Another local organization dressed up elaborately as Pirates and chanted, “Pirates against AIDS!” throughout the walk.

Rest stops along the walk provided walkers with bottled water, various snacks and bathroom breaks. The final rest stop that rode along the newly opened Lakefront State Park featured the UW-Platteville Marching Pioneers performing a mix of funk and soul tunes. This 100-person marching band color guard was set in the direct center of the Lakefront State Park.

The panoramic view around the group was absolutely gorgeous with a light breeze carrying rainbow colored blown-up noodles that flew over walkers’ heads at the finish line. A windsurfer out on the lake caught the eye of many walkers including myself. Exiting Lakeshore State Park, it was exciting to see the thousands of walkers that were still making their way to finish the route.

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