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July 3, 2006 • VOL. 44, NO. 13 • Oakland, CA
Alameda parishioners join San Francisco AIDSWALK
For the thousands
of participants who take part in the annual San Francisco AIDSWALK each
July, the spirits and memories of relatives and friends who have died
from the virus walk with them
Cath Sullivan, Sue Spiersch and Bill Dow are no exceptions. Sullivan and
Spiersch are co-chairs of the HIV/AIDS Education and Outreach Ministry
of Alameda, an interfaith outreach project headed by the island’s
four Catholic parishes.
Like the women, Dow has volunteered with the group since its founding
in 1993, but in recent years he has turned much of his attention to signing
up walkers for the summer event. The more walkers, the more funds can
be channeled to the many social service agencies which assist AIDS patients,
including Catholic Charities of the East Bay and Project Open Hand.
When Dow, Spiersch and Sullivan join with other walkers this July 16 at
10:30 a.m. in Golden Gate Park, the three of them will sadly recall the
special faces, names, and stories of those whom they have served over
the years.
Sullivan, a member of St. Barnabas Parish, will remember the friend who
had been an usher in her wedding. In 1985, he received a big promotion
at work. But when he and his wife took the required tests for increased
life insurance benefits, the company turned him down. For months, the
doctor wouldn’t tell him what he had. “It was in the early
days when AIDS was called ARC (Aids Related Complex),” said Sullivan.
Both the man and his wife died from the virus.
Sue Spiersch, a parishioner at St. Joseph Basilica, will remember the
family who was receiving assistance from the Alameda ministry group. They
were members of a fundamentalist church and the wife, fearful of censure
or condemnation from church members, told friends that her husband was
dying from cancer.
Bill Dow will remember the man he used to work with at Chevron. “He
was a fine employee. We lose some good people from the workforce through
AIDS. This virus is a drag on the economy and it raises the cost of medical
insurance. So we are all paying the price.”
Over the past 12 years, Dow has registered over 1400 participants for
the San Francisco AIDSWALK, raising over $307,000. Last year, 25,000 walkers
helped raise a total of $3.6 million. Of that total amount, 45 Alameda
parish ministry walkers raised $138,685.22
This year Dow wants to round up 100 walkers from parishes in the Oakland
Diocese by July 5. So far, he has 85 volunteers.
To register, e-mail him at willydow@comcast.net.
Bring a sandwich to the walk, and Dow will supply soft drinks, juice,
water, chips and melon.
