Bracelets for AIDS Walk for Education
by Donelle
(New Milford, NJ, USA)
Check out the ribbon at our walk 2008
A friend and I decided to have an AIDS Walk to help raise money for people who were infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, as the area we were living in at the time had no real support for the HIV/AIDS community. In order to raise awareness and funding for the local AIDS/HIV charity, we decided to hold the walk. However, we needed a way to not only raise money to have the walk, but to generate real awareness and support. I had thought of the silicone bracelets that were used for the LIVEstrong campaign and found information on getting similar bracelets made for our cause. We saw it as a great way to advertise the walk, bring about awareness throughout the community and also raise funds for the walk and the charity itself.
We purchased red wristband bracelets with the word AWARENESS on the front and sold them, making over $1000 on those bracelets and spreading awareness everywhere. This money went and still goes directly to a fund we created called the STAR STUDENT FUND that supports educational programs for individuals and groups either infected or affected by HIV. It also goes to sponsor students wishing to pursue a way to help those in the HIV/AIDS community.
The best part about selling these bands was that we got people in the media to wear them, including newscasters and radio disc jockeys, which helped to spread the word.
We have continued using these bands for each walk since (we're going on our 3rd year)as they are a great way to raise funds and awareness for our cause.