Orlando – Nearly 1,500 people raised $143,000 at the 2014 Orlando AIDS Walk, benefiting Hope and Help of Central Florida, Inc.
The walkers, wearing colorful T-shirts, braved the gloomy, drizzly weather March 29 to gather around the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park to watch openly gay Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan welcome attendees to the event.
“My favorite part of the Walk, like every year, is the sound of the horn, which was done by Patty Sheehan this year,” said Chris Hessler, events manager for Hope and Help. “It’s always fun to see people waiting, waiting and waiting, and then the air horn sounds off and everybody goes.”
The total funds raised were just shy of the goal of $150,000, but topped last year’s 1,300 walkers.
“We definitely had more people at the walk this year,” Hessler said.
Many local organizations came out to support the Walk, including WKMG Local 6’s Troy Bridges and Bridgett Ellison, The Center, Mix 105.1, Watermark Media, Morgan & Morgan, Disney VoluntEARS, SunTrust and even Orlando’s first female Police Chief and candidate for Orange County Mayor Val Demings. The turnout by various media organizations—print, radio, and television—surprised Hessler the most.
“It shows the whole community is really behind the community and charity itself,” he said.
MBA, Orlando’s gay chamber of commerce, contributed a sponsorship tent and a large team of walkers.
“Team MBA is really happy to be joining up with the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida for this year’s 2014 AIDS Walk Orlando,” said Michael Deeying, the director of social engagement for MBA Orlando.
Deeying was the MBA’s team captain and was excited to be at the event because part of MBA Orlando’s mission states to help and work with other organizations in the community.
“I’m elated to see such a turn out in Central Florida,” Deeying said. “It’s so great to see the straight and LGBT community united to support such a great cause.”
People lined the streets of Downtown Orlando as the walk traveled through Thornton Park—a new route for this year.
Event volunteer Tim McGinnis has participated in the walk in the past, but this was his first year volunteering.
“I think [the AIDS Walk participation] shows great community involvement,” McGinnis said. “It shows that AIDS doesn’t affect just the LGBT community—it affects everyone. It speaks volumes for our community that still in our differences; we come together for one good cause.”
