A star-studded line-up and the first-ever after party are in store for what organizers are calling the biggest AIDS Walk Orlando yet. The annual event benefits the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc., a local organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention and support.
According to Hope and Help events manager Chris Hessler, Congressman Alan Grayson will speak to kick off the walk and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer will make the closing remarks. The men of Rock Hard Revue will perform on the main stage and Dwight Eubanks, from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, will be walking and speaking as well.
“There’s definitely going to be a lot of great entertainment this year,” Hessler said.
Not only will Parliament House host the after party, but they’ll help participants avoid having to find downtown parking.
“We’ve never had an official after party before,” Hessler said. “Since parking downtown is so difficult and expensive, they’ll be able to park at PH for free and take the shuttles back and forth.”
Those shuttles will be free of charge.
Last year, the event raised $209,000. This year’s goal is $250,000, according to Hessler. Last year 1,900 people walked in the event, this year, the goal is 3,000 walkers and Hessler said, as of presstime, they’re about halfway there.
“We have 130 teams,” he said. “There’s always a very big push the last couple of weeks.”
AIDS Walk Orlando 2013 is schedule to begin at 8 a.m. on May 18th in Downtown Orlando. The walk will kick off from the Walt Disney World Amphitheatre at Lake Eola Park. To register, visit AIDSWalkOrlando.org.
