On the 18th of August, Bejing’s most popular gay club Destination turned its 8th anniversary into a charity event to support the first Chinese AIDS Walk. A lot of people came over to share their thoughts and to show support for China AIDS Walk which will take place in October.
The China AIDS Walk was launched by the Beijing Gender Health Education Institute and the Chinese Foundation of Prevention of STD and AIDS. Driven by a collaborative network of different organizations, the China AIDS Walk raises awareness about HIV/AIDS and raises funds for social projects working on HIV/AIDS issues.
The program is based on the “Friends Ask Friends” (FAF) fundraising model, which is also very popular in Europe and the USA. The China AIDS Walk engages the help of every participant to raise funds for the HIV/AIDS cause, distribute HIV/AIDS related knowledge and promote the ideas behind the China AIDS Walk. China AIDS Walk encourages every member of society to step up and take part in spreading awareness & understanding about HIV/AIDS and helping out those affected by HIV/AIDS. Everybody is invited to take part in an epic one-day hiking event on the Great Wall, which is preceded by an all-out fundraising drive. The funds raised will benefit people living with HIV/AIDS with medical needs & anti-discrimination initiatives all over China.
Everybody who came over to join the Night of China AIDS Walk at Destination was welcomed by our volunteers at the entrance. They gave information about how to support the China AIDS Walk and they were holding a charity sale. Charity products included newly designed fashion bags from our French designer friend Aurelien， as well as T-shirts, cards stickers, wristbands, postcards, Queer Comrades documentary series and so on. Thanks to all the amazing people who came and supported us we collected together 1815.10 yuan.
But fundraising is not only about how much money you collect, as one of the project coordinator Shiye pointed, it’s also about making people understand of what you are doing and how they can give their support for what you believe in. We are very happy and thankful for everyone showing interest and enthusiasm for our project.
Meanwhile inside the club it was getting hot on stage. After our hosts Liangma and Jason gave the crowd some basic information about HIV/AIDS and the importance of being safe, Beijing’s most famous transgender queen Vivian entered the stage. With her exquisite costume made of condoms and her magical dancing performance, she took the crowed on an unforgettable ride.
All guests who gave a donation to the China AIDS Walk at the entrance received a ticket to a grand lottery, which took place after the show. All the prices had a value of 4000 yuan in total, including 50 tickets sponsored by Destination.
At the end of November 2011, it was officially reported that China had 346.000 registered People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The actual number of People Living with HIV/AIDS was estimated to hit 780.000 by the end of 2011.
Despite their staggering numbers, PLWHA continue to live a hidden existence in China. Due to general misinformation and widespread fear, there continues to be discrimination against PLWHA, and most PLWHA prefer to remain invisible and keep their HIV/AIDS status a secret.
The first AIDS Walk was organized in Los Angeles in 1985. Since then, AIDS Walks have been organized all over the world in hundreds of cities. The China AIDS Walk brings the initiative for the first time to Mainland China.
Get Involved!
For more information about the China AIDS Walk Visit the official website www.chinaaidswalk.org. There you can learn more about the project and how to become donator, participant or volunteer.
Join us:
http://www.weibo.com/chinaaidswalk
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaAIDSWalk
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