ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : A Walk in the Shadow of Tragedy

No question about it, the sixth annual AIDS Walk of Orange County on Sunday morning was a resounding success. More than 6,000 people joined in the event in Irvine, which brought in nearly $500,000 in contributions, pledges and in-kind donations. That’s more than double last year’s total.

The overwhelming response was an indication that Orange County is becoming ever more aware of this devastating and deadly epidemic, and ever more touched by its tragedies.

Since 1981, more than 2,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in Orange County and 1,200 people have died. Many of those who joined in this year’s 10-kilometer walk were there in memory of a friend or relative who died of AIDS. “We Will Meet Again,” said one blue banner carried in the walk. “Loving Brother. Loving Uncle. Safely Home,” read another.

Joann Paige Ruden, AIDS Walk executive director, on Monday was adding up the previous day’s successes. She attributed the growth in participation to many factors, including the huge publicity generated when sports figures Magic Johnson and Arthur Ashe acknowledged that they were HIV-positive. People are beginning to understand that this disease can afflict anyone, no matter what age or sexual persuasion, she said.

This year’s AIDS Walk included many more “walking teams” from Orange County corporations and businesses, churches, synagogues and organizations. About 140 of these teams organized themselves, many with special T-shirts. All took pledges from friends and relatives to complete the walk.

As in previous years, the money will be distributed to Orange County agencies that service people with AIDS or the HIV virus, or that offer education programs on how to avoid contracting the disease. The money is especially important right now because state and federal funding cannot keep pace with the needs.

Of the many companies that participated, two deserve special mention because they went an extra mile in making the event a success. One is Nordstrom, a new sponsor that pledged $50,000 over five years and helped attract participants through employee and customer programs. Another is Foote, Cone & Belding, an advertising agency that helped with publicity. Many others deserve praise for sponsorship, volunteer work or organization of employee teams.

All who participated showed their commitment to fighting a disease that has claimed far too many victims among their family, friends and neighbors in Orange County.