THANK YOU for stopping by my page and supporting me as I Step Up to End HIV! Personally, I have only known one person who passed away due to complications from AIDS. I used to work alongside him back in the 80s. I heard about his passing several years after we worked together. Today I may or may not know someone in my life who is living with HIV. We live in a world where people are able to obtain treatment and support and we may not be aware of what they are going through. This epidemic of HIV touches us all and many of our friends and neighbors.
The community is still dealing with HIV and some may not have social and/or financial support. Because they may not fit the "normal" of how their family and friends feel they may become rejected by the very people who should be supporting them.
LifeWalk benefits Prism Health North Texas, a local nonprofit organization that provides HIV primary care and prevention services to our community. With the COVID-19 pandemic, LifeWalk is now more important than ever. People living with compromised immune systems can be at more risk of illness from exposure to COVID-19. During the pandemic, Prism Health North Texas has seen an increase in testing, behavioral health services, and people returning to care at the organization. Many are losing their health insurance due to job loss and have turned to organizations like Prism Health North Texas to receive care and request assistance for rent assistance, HIV medication, food, and more.
Most of the services offered at Prism Health North Texas are free, and if payment is needed, it is at the lowest cost possible through the organization's financial assistance program -- no one is turned away if they are unable to pay.
Your donation and support will help cover the cost of care and will allow the organization to continue to provide services for those in need. Maybe you are wondering just what the money donated will go for. Here are some of the ways this money will be used:
- $25 can provide free HIV tests and STI screenings and required lab work.
- $25 can provide up to a week of protein packs for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These help with the taking of required medications which have to be taken with food.
- $25 can provide bus transportation for up to 4 weeks.
- $50 allows a client to meet with a medical provider on a regular basis to ensure their health is maintained.
- $100 empowers a person living with HIV to handle stigma with a counseling session.
- $250 enables a client to stay on top of their health with comprehensive blood work while monitoring their health.
I know this may not seem like much but every dollar can help. I will be virtually walking on October 11th with the UT Southwestern Team. I hope some of you may help me out raising funds to help support this cause. Please let me know if I can answer any questions. Thank you for listening to me!
All people deserve the chance to live. Dallas has one of the highest rates of new HIV infections in the United States. Thank you for supporting me. LifeWalk benefits Prism Health North Texas will illuminate healthy futures for many North Texans through education, clinical research, prevention, and personalized integrated HIV care.
As a perk this year LifeWalk is offering raffle tickets when you donate! One ticket for every $10 or 3 tickets for every $25 you donate to sponsor the walk. I will get your information and mail you your tickets! Here are the prizes: 1st prize - Caribbean Cruise, courtesy of Cruise Planners (4 night/5 day Royal Caribbean Cruise. 2 RT Southwest Airlines tickets, included); 2nd prize - Southwest Airlines (Two RT tickets on a domestic Southwest Airlines flight); 3rd prize - Weekend for Two (1 night stay at Warwick Melrose, free parking and Breakfast for two at the famous Landmark Restaurant, and dinner for two at Chuy’s).
Please donate & support my efforts today or join me in walking to end HIV. An HIV free generation is possible with your support.
About Prism Health North Texas
Prism Health North Texas' mission is to advance the health of North Texas through education, research, prevention, and personalized integrated HIV care. The organization provides free STI and HIV testing, STI and HIV treatment, HIV primary care, PrEP prevention services, transgender primary care, behavioral health, and case management to our community. Learn more at PHNTX.org.
