The 23rd Annual Tallahassee AIDS Walk and 5K/10K Run was held on November 23rd in Southwood, Florida. The event is organized by Big Bend Cares to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS treatment for over 900 individuals in the Big Bend region. Participants could choose to walk or run and register as individuals or teams. Last year's event raised over $22,000, and organizers were hoping to reach $30,000 this year. Community members and local businesses came out to show their support for this important cause.

1. Vol. 39, No. 49 Section 01 Tallahassee, Florida Dec. 5-11, 2013
www.capitaloutlook.com 50 cents
Moving for a Cause: 23rd Annual
Tallahassee AIDS Walk and 5K/10K Run
By Aldranon
English II
Outlook Writer
Scores of individ-
uals came to sup-
port and participate
in the 23rd Annual
Tallahassee AIDS
Walk and 5K/10K
Run on Nov. 23 in
Southwood.
Big Bends Cares’
fall event attracts
crowds of runners
and walkers each
year. Community
members, educa-
tional groups and
faith groups col-
lect pledges for Big
Bend Cares, and
then come together
for a morning of
healthy exercise
and camaraderie.
The event is or-
chestrated to create
awareness and raise
money for the treat-
ment of HIV – the
virus that causes
AIDS. Funds raised
by the AIDS Walk
& 5K/10K Run stay
in the Big Bend to
serve more than 900
individuals affected
by HIV/AIDS.
Michelle Hayse,
director of devel-
opment and sup-
port services of
Big Bend Cares,
is optimistic about
the turnout for the
event.
“We’re hoping
to reach $30,000
in funds and dona-
tions,” said Hayes.
“We have a little
over $22,000 on-
line, but we’re
hoping to surpass
$25,000 before the
event.”
The fundraiser re-
quired registration,
but invitations were
extended to every-
one who wished
to participate. Pre-
registration fees
were $15 for run-
ners and walkers,
children under 12
years of age were
free to participate.
Admittance fees on
the day of the event
were $20. The mon-
ey collected by Big
Bend Cares is used
to support people
infected with AIDS
through there many
auxiliary programs
and services which
includes housing
assistance, mental
health counseling
and prevention edu-
cation.
Admission in-
cluded an official
AIDS Walk &
5k/10k Run T-shirt.
Participants had the
choice to enter ei-
ther as individuals
or as teams. Teams
designated a cap-
tain and registered
online creating a
team name. People
are able to sign un-
der the team of their
preference. This
is the second year
that the 10k run will
be included in the
event.
“We received
a lot of feedback
that brought out
additional runners
from last year and
we hope to see an
increase in partici-
pants,” said Hayse.
The fundraiser
also awarded prizes
to teams and indi-
viduals who raised
additional funds.
There were many
sponsors on hand
at the event. Mail
Meds Clinical Phar-
macy was one of
the biggest contrib-
utors and is also a
big supporter of Big
Bend Cares. Other
contributors includ-
ed AHFPharmacy.
org and the South
Eastern Center for
Infectious Diseases
along with 30 other
advocates and busi-
nesses.
“We get a pretty
good following for
sponsorship and
volunteers,” said
Hayse.
Participants from
various ages and
backgrounds came
Photos by Aldranon English II
Scores of Leon County residents came out to take part in the 23rd Annual Tallahassee AIDS Walk and 5K/10K Run.
see AIDS, page 2

2. www.capitaloutlook.com
Capital Outlook Dec. 5-11,2013 2
out to show their
support. Allen Jo-
seph, a 54 year-old
professor at Talla-
hassee Community
College, expresses
his pleasure and
shares his experi-
ence at the event.
“The camaraderie
is great here. They
(Big Bend Cares)
put on a very great
walk and I hope
they raise some
good funds,” said
Joseph. “There are
a lot of races out
there, so it is hard
to get new events
going. But, they
are putting in good
events year after
year, and I think
this one will con-
tinue to grow.”
Eliakim “Eli”
Nortelus is a
37-year-old consul-
tant and lobbyist.
He works for Aker-
man Senterfitt, one
of the top 100 law
firms in the United
States by The Na-
tional Law Journal
(NLJ). Nortelus sur-
mised his reason for
participating in this
year’s fundraiser in
one simple statement.
“I came here just
to support,” said Nor-
telus. This was Nor-
telus’ first time par-
ticipating in the event
and he looks forward
to next year. “To be
part of the community
and help out anyway
I can; I am all for it.
The turnout was great;
adults, kids and even
dogs ran in the event.”
Nortelus, along
with other partici-
pants, expects great
things to come for
the event in the near
future.
“I think that the
more word gets out
each year, the big-
ger the event will be-
come,” he said.
AIDS CONTI-