More Than $100,000 Raised as 750 Turn Out for AIDS Walk

More than 750 people participated Saturday in the sixth annual AIDS Walk to raise money for HIV-prevention programs and AIDS patient support services.

The number of walkers making the 10-kilometer trip jumped 5% from last year, and the total amount raised was $100,800--about $17,200 more than the 1996 total.

“We are deeply honored by the support expressed today,” said Doug Green, executive director of AIDS Care Inc., the event organizer.

“The thousands of men, women and teenagers touched by the AIDS epidemic in Ventura County desperately need the compassionate support of their neighbors,” Green said. “They received a huge, heart-warming dose of it today.”

Proceeds from the AIDS Walk for Life, one of the largest pledge walks in the county, will benefit AIDS Care Inc., Christopher’s Place and the Ventura County AIDS Partnership.

Prizes were awarded to individual walkers and teams of walkers who raised the most money.

The Amgen team won first place, raising $8,771. The second-place team was from Merchants Home Delivery Service, which raised $6,410; the team from Making a Difference placed third, raising $6,385.

Melody Wyres of Camarillo raised $1,286 and won a trip to New York City as the top individual walker. Bill Rich, also of Camarillo, raised $1,220, and Lina Enriquez of Newbury Park, raised $1,150 in donations.

A special award was presented to the Champagne family of Oxnard for its years of dedicated support. Walking in support of a son, Bert, who is living with AIDS, the family raised $4,147 this year and has raised more than $16,400 since the event began in 1992.