Orlando | The Orlando AIDS Walk will strut down the streets of Orlando for the 21st time on April 16 at 7:30 a.m. in Lake Eola Park.

After reports that Florida leads the nation in new HIV infections, Francis Boscoe from the New York Cancer Registry compared 114 standardized lists to discover that the most distinctive cause of death in Florida is HIV.

The walk – the second largest annual fundraiser for the Hope & Health Center of Central Florida, Inc. – will loop around the lake as teams march in support of the cause. Hope & Help’s mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action against HIV/AIDS.

Hope & Help  Community Development Director Russell Walker says they’ll unveil a new logo for the organization at the AIDS Walk.

“We don’t really theme the walk, but the goal is to mobilize and inspire people to fight HIV and AIDS. We have that overall message of knowing your status, getting tested and being HIV-aware to ensure safety and end stigma,” Walker says.

He says there are 744 people registered as of early April.

“Last year we raised over 100,000, but there is no hard goal set,” he said.

Registration is available online at AIDSWalkOrlando.org and by phone at 407-645-2577. Fees are $10 for individual walkers and $25 for team captains, with the funds all going to the Center’s client services ranging from treatment to testing and prevention.