The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is returning for the 20th year, with participants collecting pledges to help fund programs at the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT). The AIDS Committee offers counseling, health forums, social events and financial help to those living with the disease.
"They have so many great programs there, and the AIDS Walk makes up 15 per cent of the fundraising ACT requires, so it's important that we do our part," said AIDS Walk chair Michael Mitchell.
The walk will bring participants through the downtown core, kicking off at the corner of Church and Carlton streets at 2 p.m. Walkers will make their way down Carlton Street, across Queen Street, up Yonge Street and across Charles Street before making its way to the corner of Church and Alexander streets.
As in years past, the walk will culminate in a community fair at Church and Alexander. The intersection will be closed off to traffic to make way for this year's festivities, which will be hosted by Pantages Spa.
"It's going to be really cool because the spa's setting up an area where they can get massages for a dollar a minute," Michell said. "You can get a back massage, foot massage, whatever you need. I know I'll be lined up there waiting for one."
The community fair will include a beer garden and live music by world-renowned disco revival ensemble the Boogie Woogie Wonder Band and live spinning by DJ Sumation.
"It's always a great party and it brings out people from all walks of life," Mitchell said. "We've had the Boogie Woogie Wonder Band before and they really get the crowd going."
Proceeds from the community fair will also help support ACT programs.
Last year's AIDS Walk saw roughly 3,500 participants bring in $450,000. While online donations are down somewhat this year, Mitchell is optimistic that this year's higher registration numbers will lead to more money being raised overall.
"We'll hopefully exceed what we did last year by 10 per cent," he said, adding that top fundraisers will receive prizes.
Over the 20 years in which the AIDS Walk has taken place, its participants have raised over $8.5 million for ACT programs.
Visit www.aidswalkforlifetoronto.ca for more information on the walk, to register or to pledge a participant.