Twenty years after 8,000 soles first shattered
stereotypes by walking Los Angeles’ streets, power strolling has become
an HIV fundraising tool in 86 U.S. cities (and in Canada, too). “I
wanted to let PWAs know that people support and care for them,” says
LA, NY and SF Walk founder Craig Miller. Feet, don’t fail us now.
1985 LA,
July 28—Eternal sexpot Ann-Margret launches the inaugural LA walk—three
days before close friend Rock Hudson reveals he’s positive. Four
thousand marchers raise $673,000.
1992 NY, May 31— 20,000 New Yorkers weather torrential downpours, setting a fundraising record of $4.8 million.
1994 SF,
July 17—Rumors swirl about Robin Williams’ incognito participation in
the SF walk; in ’96, he officially joins as guest speaker. 1997 LA, September 28—Honoring the late Princess Di’s activism, a UK company donates two double-deckers to shuttle LA walkers.
2002 SF,
LA and NY—Walkers chug 100,000 bottles of donated water; New York
walkers solicit $705,488 through online donations, 15 percent of the
city’s $4.7 million total.
2005 NY,
April 27—GMHC’s head Ana Oliveira opens the NASDAQ stock exchange,
kicking off the fund- raising season; NY Walk scores $5.8 mil.
