AIDS Run/Walk for Life

Rhode Island State House
82 Smith St.
Providence, RI 02903

Register as a solo runner or walker, and your donation helps ensure APRI can continue to provide services to those who need us most. (Help us raise additional funds as a runner or walker, click the link under “Make a Team” below.)

Want to fundraise for the Run/Walk for Life as group, no matter where you all are? Invite friends, family, or colleagues to join you. Together you can make an amazing impact on those living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV.

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The AIDS Walk for Life was started by AIDS Project Rhode Island in the mid-1980s—part of a wave of grassroots fundraisers held across the country that was that raised money to help provide care and support to individuals suffering during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when they were often without insurance, access to services, and/or dying alone because their families and communities had rejected them.

In the more than 30 years since the first AIDS Walk for Life, we have made great strides in the fight against HIV, and now, thanks to advances in medication, people with HIV are living longer, healthier lives.

That does not mean, however that HIV and AIDS have gone away. The virus may not make headlines much these days, but more than 1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. Every year, more than 30,000 people in the U.S. get HIV, and continued stigma against people living with the virus, gaps in education, and lack of connection to care and support services present enormous challenges.

Hope Harris was an AIDS Project Rhode Island Board Member and leader who was passionate in her outreach to the African American community to fight the stigma around HIV. Named after Hope, this award recognizes persons or organization exemplifying service to the communities APRI serves and dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Stay tuned for news on this year’s honoree.

Honoring J. Phillip Kane

Philip started as a volunteer at the Project. He was working for Sheraton Hotels in MA in 1986 and a co-worker tested positive for HIV. That co-worker lived in RI, and was connected to the Project so Philip decided to  volunteer for the AIDS hotline and as a Buddy for clients.

At the time, the Project was mostly all volunteer and  then they got first grant from RI Foundation.  The epidemic of course grew so more funding allowed the Project to eventually hire him as the AIDS Hotline Coordinator, training volunteers and managing it, updating info on HIV/AIDS etc. Then he became the Education Coordinator. He was with the Project 13 years.

Sponsorship Package

For additional information please email Andrew Hutner at hutneran@familyserviceri.org
Please allow 1-2 business days for response.