The annual CNY AIDS Walk/Run benefitting ACR Health will look a bit different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event has traditionally been held at Beaver Lake Nature Center, but on June 7, they will be going virtual.
“We are recreating the physical event in as many aspects as we can in virtual components. For example, for Memory Lane, all of the memorial signs that normally run along the event, we made that a beautiful video of the signs with the help of Moe Harrington. That very important element of the event is still there," Allison Mitura, development associate from ACR Health said.
ACR Health ran their springtime Hike For Life virtually, changing it to “Hike From Home” on April 25. With the success of that event, they made the decision to move the AIDS Walk/Run to a virtual one this year as well.
In addition to the virtual Memory Lane, Mitura said they are also working on Facebook Live presentations from vendors that would normally be at the AIDS Walk/Run. For those who like a bit of healthy competition, organizers are potentially setting up an event with something like Strava to see where you might compare with others participating.
Part of ACR’s fundraising efforts this year also include the launch of their new Pride Coffee by local roasters Utica Coffee for Pride Month in June.
“It’s a darker roast of their Adirondack Blend. We chose it because it is a bold flavor, but it is also palatable to a mass market,” Mitura said.
ACR Health is launching new fundraising opportunities this year with partnerships with Utica Coffee and Speach Family Candy Shoppe.Provided photos | syracuse.com
Pride Coffee can be found at Speach Family Candy Shoppe along with their Gay Bar chocolates and multi-flavored Jelly Belly jelly beans. ACR receives 100% of the profit when purchasing any of these products from Speach’s. You can also purchase these items directly from the ACR Health website and Wildflowers Armory.
Participants in the AIDS Walk/Run can also sell the Pride Coffee to help raise funds for their team. Anyone interested in carrying Pride Coffee at their own shop can contact Mitura at 315-898-2450.
ACR Health is a not-for-profit, community-based organization providing an array of support services to individuals affected by a wide range of chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS, with the goal of positive health outcomes. They are still running their programming both online and in person such as the health clinic and healthy home visits.
There is still time to register for the virtual AIDS Walk/Run in June via the event website. Funds from the Walk/Run and candy and coffee sales will go to help sustain ACR programming which is helping support people through these unusual times.
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