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AIDS Walk Los Angeles
Bryant Irawan /Indonesia Media
 From nearby school community service groups to secluded homosexual organizations, thirty thousand walkers and volunteers flock to Los Angeles to participate in the annual AIDS Walk (Oct. 21, 2007). AIDS Walk is a walkathon fundraiser that raises money to combat the AIDS epidemic. The funds raised from AIDS Walks usually benefit a local AIDS service organization (such as Gay Men's Health Crisis, Whitman-Walker Clinic or the AIDS Project Los Angeles), which provide services and advocacy for local community residents who are infected with HIV. They are also often credited for being effective tools of public outreach, community empowerment, and education for the issues surrounding AIDS. AIDS Walk fundraisers are a primarily American phenomenon due to the fact that the United States has no nationalized healthcare system, and the services provided by local AIDS service organizations may not be otherwise accessible to people who are HIV positive. This makes communitys support of AIDS service organizations through fundraisers like the AIDS Walk absolutely essential to help prevent the local spread of the disease. AIDS walk takes place in four different cities: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Fort Lauderdale, but  that doesn’t mean you cannot participate in an AIDS Walk event if you do not live near one of the four major cities listed. Many large cities host their own local AIDS Walk fundraisers that also benefit local AIDS service organizations. Even if you can’t walk the 6.2 miles, you can either volunteer or just contribute a donation online. Some participants even sponsor walkers. So there really is no excuse.
Well, it was my first time participating at some kind of walkathon/marathon related event with my school’s community service club. Forced to abide by my mother’s punctual rules, I had to be at least an hour early and always had to add an hour for traffic whether I’m going to downtown or just to the city’s library. Since the AIDS Walk started at 7, if you do the math, you could see why I would be so grumpy that day. I didn’t know however, it soon would be much worse.
After I got through all the checking in procedure with my club, I grabbed a complimentary cup of coffee and bagel for breakfast. After a quick bite, the walkathon soon started.
 At first, it wasn’t really that bad. It was like a simple brisk walk along some fancy brand stores in West Hollywood. It was very difficult to move around, however, but after a quick turn we were on a huge road so there was a little bit more elbow room. We were soon waling on Melrose Ave. The walkathon had a half way checkpoint at the end of Melrose Ave. where the weak (or the smartest) give up and enjoy a picnic in the park. I couldn’t help but get a slurpie at a nearby 7-11 liquor store and continued my journey. By now, if I would to stop and wiggly my foot ever so slightly, it would probably fall off. Nonetheless, I had to finish and I had a little catching up to do. I was starting to see why all the seniors hated the walkathon so much…
 After completing a little more than half of the walkathon, we turned from Melrose Ave. to LaBrea Ave. At this point, I was having doubts about walking in the first place. I wondered how the senior citizens that participated would survive after walking such a distance. On LaBrea Ave., I saw a huge building at one of the cross streets. My friend encouraged me to keep walking. We can see the ending now. Little did I know, that building had nothing to do with the AIDS Walk and I would soon be miserable to see another turn to Beverley Blvd.
 On Beverley Blvd., I decided to look at my map and see how much further I had to walk. It’s funny how maps can deceive you. On the map, the walkathon looked like a piece of cake. But I guess they forgot to inform you that two inches on the map equaled a mile in real life. By now, my legs were just moving by themselves. Finally, I only had a mile left and I remember pondering how is it possible to SPRINT 26 miles when it’s already difficult to walk 6?! I was glad it finally was over and rewarded myself with a relaxing foot massage.
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