Thanks for making AIDS Walk a success

Wally Paynter
president, SIREA Board of Directors

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the board and volunteers of the Southern Illinois Regional Effort for AIDS (SIREA), I would like to thank all of Southern Illinois for their strong support of the fourth annual AIDS Walk Oct. 4.

We raised over $10,000 and had over 800 walkers participate in our walk.

A special thanks to Chris Wissmann of Carbondale for serving as our honorary chair and to Barb Pfeffer of Herrin for all of her hard work with the AIDS Walk.

Our top individuals who raised funds were Patricia Paynter of Carmi who raised $718, Patty Rutter of Carbondale who raised $600, Sherry Peyton of Galatia who raised $515, Bill Strickland of Eldorado who raised $416 and Vagner Whitehead of SIU who raised $315.

The teams that raised the most money and/or had the most walkers were the Egyptian Health Department, STARS of SIU and Cinema & Photography of SIU.

Finally, thanks to Upside Down Club of Carbondale for raising over $2,600 and to Ashley Furniture of Carbondale for their $1,000 donation.

SIREA still needs the community's support. For those interested in helping raise awareness of HIV and helping raise funds for emergency client assistance for those living with HIV/AIDS, please consider donating money to SIREA, 715 S. Washington St., Carbondale, Ill. 62901, or donating time by contacting SIREA at 618-549-9941 or myself as 618-382-2015 or wallypaynter@aol.com.

Thanks again to all of Southern Illinois for their strong support of this annual AIDS awareness walk.

Wally Paynter

president, SIREA Board of Directors

Carbondale, Illinois

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