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Indianapolis-- AIDS WALK INDY, the local HIV/AIDS fund raising walk in the Indianapolis metro area will be held Sunday, October 12 at the site of the Indiana AIDS Memorial. The memorial is located at Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis.

The WALK is presented by The Damien Center, Indiana AIDS Fund and Indiana Still Cares and sponsored by Target and the Indiana State Department of Health, among others.

According to Betty Wilson, CEO of the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis and the parent organization of the Indiana AIDS Fund, the goals of the event are to honor and support those living with HIV/AIDS through contributions to the Greg Powers/Direct Emergency Financial Assistance fund and to celebrate and remember the lives of those who fought the disease.

Tracy Elliott, Executive Director of the Damien Center, said AIDS Walk proceeds are used to provide emergency financial assistance to people affected by HIV/AIDS. Elliott suggested that with projections for home heating fuel costs to rise as much as 300% this year coupled with the significant increase in Marion County property taxes, housing costs will increase significantly. He added that federal funds for housing assistance to people with AIDS in Marion county has been cut almost 40%.

"With these developments we hat can anticipate more of HIV/AIDS patients will be homeless, cold, and hungry in 2004. AIDS Walk proceeds help to prevent this suffering. All of the net proceeds of the Walk are used for emergency financial assistance so that people have shelter, heat and food," Elliott said. He also pointed out that most of the recipient agencies, like The Damien Center, do not deduct administrative expenses from the DEFA grants they receive.

According to Stephen L. Everett, Director of the Indiana AIDS Fund, another key component of the event is raising awareness of HIV/AIDS through educational opportunities like the health and education tent. "Since Indiana remains above the national average of young people under the age of 25 who are living with HIV/AIDS, it is important to reach our youth," Everett said.

Proceeds from AIDS WALK INDY will provide funds for those with HIV/AIDS who need immediate, emergency assistance with shelter, utilities, food and medicine. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 Hoosiers with HIV/AIDS.

For more information on registering to walk or volunteer, visit www.aidswalkinindy.org or call the AIDS WALK LINE AT (317) 709-3292.