By Keith Allen
Arizona Daily Wildcat
The heat did not stop the more than 2,700 walkers and 250 volunteers from showing their support yesterday morning in the fight against AIDS at AIDSWALK '95.
University of Arizona students were among the many walkers who supported the cause in what organizers called the largest AIDSWALK ever.
The event raised over $95,000 for three Tucson AIDS-related agencies; the Tucson AIDS Project, the people with AIDS coalition of Tucson (also known as PACT for Life) and the Shanti Foundation of Tucson, said Dan Maxwell, director of the UA Department of Student Programs and a coordinator for the event.
"I am walking in memory of my mom's brother," said Samantha Harrell, political science senior. "It is a reality check. It is a totally different experience when it affects someone you know."
"It is the thought that someday we will know someone who would be infected by HIV," said Nicole Deschenes, secondary math education junior.
Deschenes walked with members of her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, raising $260 for the cause. She said they raised the money in classes, from family and from people that could not walk that day.
"I'm tired of hearing the attitude that you can't do anything about it, especially students," said Jerome Maese, hall director of Apache-Santa Cruz Residence Hall, on why he was participating.
"It raises awareness just to be here," said Nagla'a Elhodiri, economics doctoral student. She raised $100 in a combined effort with two other friends.
The UA Retailers Association raised $1,470 from 12 sponsors for the cause, and had about 25 people at the walk, said Jennifer Johnson, retailing and consumer studies senior who also is philanthropy chair