9,000 Take to Streets, Raise $625,000 to Combat AIDS

Darrell Banniza used to be a regular.

The 28-year-old Garden Grove man, like many of his friends, showed up every year to march in Orange County’s AIDS Walk. But last year, he missed it when he was hospitalized for a fatal AIDS-related disease.

Banniza was back on Sunday--symbolically--in the form of an AIDS quilt panel bearing his name and picture. It was carried by friends who walked the 10-kilometer route in his memory.

“We feel like we’ve got him along today,” said Hal Shackford of Anaheim, a travel service owner who sewed the green checkered quilt piece. “He would have come.”

Shackford was accompanied by about 9,000 other walkers, joggers and roller-bladers who took over the streets north of UC Irvine in a walkathon to raise money for AIDS and HIV research, education and awareness.

The walk raised nearly $625,000, organizers said, the highest total since the event was first staged with about 1,000 participants in 1987.

Some sweaty walkers said they braved the morning heat to support worthy charities. “It’s a good cause,” said Emily Hobson, 17, of Laguna Beach.

Hobson and several of her school friends, one carrying a sign that read “Laguna Beach High School,” strolled through the crowd while chewing on orange slices.

Frank Ramirez, a 27-year volunteer with the American Red Cross, was happy to walk a few blocks before stopping to take a breather. Ramirez had donned a tan, tubelike costume--complete with rubber hat--that transformed him from a man to a prophylactic with feet.

“I’m known as Condom Man throughout Red Crosses in Southern California,” Ramirez said, laughing. When people ask about the outfit, he uses the opportunity to talk about HIV and AIDS prevention, he said.

As Condom Man walked away in search of a cold drink, several men in straw sombreros formed a line and slithered their way through the crowd. Their rhythm was finally broken when they reached a baby barricade, a threesome of stroller-pushing mothers.

Elsewhere in the line of walkers, hip-hop and rap music producer Tango and his friends shuffled to the booming sounds of their own tunes.

Music blared from a boombox pulled along on a wagon by Tango’s entourage, about a dozen friends who work at TangoVision Productions in Buena Park. Greg Bruns was among them.

“We’re walking for Greg’s sister Elizabeth,” said Tango, a.k.a. Paul Taira, pulling on his backward black baseball cap. “She died last year. . . . She got AIDS from a bad transfusion.”

Bruns walked silently, and let his T-shirt do the talking. It read “4 Liz” on the back.

Others marched to make a point. Stan North, a volunteer with the AIDS Response Program in Garden Grove, said he wanted to stress AIDS and HIV education.

“I know too many people who are HIV-positive,” North said. “AIDS education is an area that can make a difference.”

North said programs that teach people to avoid contracting HIV are important “because our schools aren’t stressing AIDS education enough.”

As North and other weary walkers approached the finish line, volunteers cheered and shook silvery pompons at the participants. Some darted among the walkers, dousing them with water from spray bottles.

Rhonda Schlug of Rancho Santa Margarita was among those crossing the finish tape.

“My feet are so sore, my legs are so sore,” Schlug moaned. “Are we there yet?