Despite road closures, wind, and blizzard warnings, 16 Cheyenne Wyoming residents took to the streets today to support their fellow Wyomingites as part of WyoAIDS Walk: Cheyenne.  Walkers followed the planned route from the walk's official registration and gathering point, Cheyenne's St. Mark's Episcopal Church, to the Wyoming State Capital and back.

While 2009 marks the eighth annual WyoAIDS Walk, this is the first year that Cheyenne, the state's capital, hosted it's own walk.  The 16 individuals who walked today were part of 33 total participants who ventured out to turn in donations.  All total, the Cheyenne community raised $4,063 to add the over $100,000 raised to date by WyoAIDS Walk.  Today's event was marked by a proclamation from Wyoming's Governor, Dave Freudenthal, and official statements of support from the State's two Senators Michael B. Enzy and Dr. John Barrasso.

The theme for this year's walk events is "The Risk Is Not Knowing. Get Tested." WyoAIDS Walk events continue throughout the month.  Across All Lines, Laramie County Community College's gay-straight alliance, is hosting a flea market on Saturday, April 11th.  Then, April 13 marks the beginning of a full week of educational and awareness events on the University of Wyoming Campus in Laramie, Wyoming, home of the first WyoAIDS Walk.  On April 18th, the Laramie community will host its own walk event.  Finally, the Cheyenne community will gather again on April 25th at the Unitarian Universalist Church to allow snowed in residents to gather and bring in any last minute donations. 

WyoAIDS Walk’s fundraising efforts help Wyoming residents pay for the many expenses related to living with HIV/AIDS such as medication, co-pays, dental and vision care, counseling, and other needs that would otherwise go unmet by state and federal money. These funds are currently administered by Laramie Reproductive Health by request from HIV/AIDS Case Managers on behalf of HIV+ clients in Wyoming.

The WyoAIDS Walk: Cheyenne is sponsored by Wyoming Equality, Cheyenne/Laramie County Health Department, Across All Lines, Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. For more information about WyoAIDS Walk, the Cheyenne or Laramie events, or to make a donation please visit www.wyomingequality.org and click on the Wyoming AIDS Walk Cheyenne link, or visit www.wyoaidswalk.org.