DETROIT –
On a sunny, cool Saturday morning, AIDS Walk Michigan – Detroit walkers strutted along behind the awesome and energetic Cass Tech High School Marching Band. The band, in their snappy green and white uniforms, played a fully choreographed show that got the 300 walkers and spectators jammin' along. They were sharp, musically solid and a joy to watch.
After all the dancing and marching, AIDS Partnership Michigan Executive Director announced that $20,000 was raised by the event with the Blue Cross Blue Shield team pledging the most at $6,000. The monies raised will be evenly divided between participating agencies APM, Community Health Awareness Group, the Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion, the Horizon Project of Wayne State University and the Ruth Ellis Center.
The Detroit Walk stepped off on a new route this year, following the path of the newly constructed Dequinder Cut Greenway, a 1.3 mile beautifully landscaped city park running off the Detroit River, parallel to Atwater St.
"This walk means a lot to the participants," said Murray who heads up AIDS Walk Michigan, the organizing entity for seven AIDS walks across the state over the last two weekends in September. "Some of our walkers are clients at APM, so this is highly personal for them," said Murray.
