37th Annual Walk to End HIV
The 37th Annual Walk to End HIV, presented by DC based non-profit Whitman-Walker, will take place on Saturday, December 2, along the Anacostia Park, the backbone of the Anacostia Waterfront.
Whitman-Walker, a leader in LGBTQ health, research, education and policy with special expertise in HIV care, is now in its 50th Anniversary year. The Walk to End HIV is Whitman-Walker’s signature annual fundraiser, calling on thousands to strap up their shoes and walk or run to support Whitman-Walker’s mission and its programs including HIV prevention and treatment.
The event is one of the largest HIV awareness events in the country, attracting nearly 3,000 participants to Washington, DC. The family friendly event kicks off at the Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, and will take participants along the Anacostia River on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, the backbone of the Anacostia Waterfront, passing the John Philip Sousa Bridge and the 11th Street Bridge.
This year’s event will feature several pre/post-race activities such as remarks from Whitman-Walker CEO’s Naseema Shafi (CEO Whitman-Walker Health) and Cindy Lewin (Interim CEO, Whitman-Walker Health System), live entertainment by the Gay Men’s Chorus, live music, food trucks, community partner booths and much more.
As of 2023, Whitman-Walker has been part of the fabric of Washington DC and nationally for 50 years – as a first responder and care-provider for those living with HIV; a leader in LGBTQ care and advocacy; a research center working to discover breakthroughs in HIV treatment; and one of DC’s most trusted partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all people are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing.
Within the nation’s capital area, Whitman-Walker provides stigma-free care to anyone who walks through their doors. Just last month, they opened the Max Robinson Center in Southeast Washington DC, a brand new state-of-the-art building on the campus of Saint Elizabeths East in the Congress Heights neighborhood, transforming healthcare for DC residents east of the river.
This year’s event fundraising goal is to raise $550K in which funds will support Whitman-Walker’s critical program areas such as:
- Supportive services for LGBTQ seniors who are HIV positive including peer support programs and events to combat isolation
- Provide free testing services through Whitman Walker’s Sexual Health & Wellness
- Operation of mobile HIV testing van to help communities facing barriers to care have the prevention and education they need and help to have access to HIV testing, prevention and care.
