World AIDS Day Candlelight Walk and Event in Downtown Everett Tonight

The Snohomish Health District is holding several events today to commemorate World AIDS Day. The District is offering free or low-cost Rapid HIV testing at their offices in downtown Everett between 9am and 4pm. Tonight at 6:30pm the public is invited to a candlelight walk from the Snohomish Health District offices to Everett’s HIV/AIDS memorial at the Snohomish County Administration Complex. The walkers will then return to the Health District for an evening program that begins with introductory remarks by Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish Health District Director and Health Officer; and Teresa Rugg, Snohomish County RESULTS Group Leader. Program speakers include Hayden M. Bixby, International Program Coordinator for Cura Orphanage in Kenya; Michael Gwaba, HIV/TB activist and ambassador of the “Here I Am Campaign” for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; and a panel of community members living with HIV who will share their stories of how they are “Facing AIDS.”

The evening program also features music and light refreshments, and concludes with a candlelight vigil. The commemoration is free and open to the public.

Local sponsors include Snohomish Health District, Evergreen AIDS Foundation, Snohomish County Gay Men’s Task Force, AIDS Project Snohomish County, RESULTS Educational Fund, and AIDS Outreach Project.

Washington state diagnosed its first case of AIDS in 1982. Since then, over 18,270 cases have been reported in Washington state and almost 11,000 residents are living with the virus today. According to the Washington State Department of Health, 696 people in Snohomish County are currently living with the virus.

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