Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg
Saturday, December 12
A new tradition has emerged in Tampa Bay. After many years of holding the annual AIDS Walk Tampa Bay near Labor Day weekend, the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas (ASAP) has moved 
the date of the fundraiser closer to the end of the year, around the time the Santa Speedo Run used to be run. The 12th annual AIDS Walk Tampa Bay and Fun Run will be held at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday, December 12.
People who will be participating in the AIDS Walk Tampa Bay, whether they participate as a walker, donor or volunteer, will be helping further the goals of ASAP, which is based in Pinellas County and is an HIV/AIDS service organization serving impacted people in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.
This year’s event outline includes the addition of a fun run, which will begin at 9:50 a.m., ten minutes before the walkers begin on the same 2.5-mile route. All participants who are wishing to register for the race can register (free) at the park at 8 a.m. People interested in pre-registering can do so at the ASAP main offices (3050 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg) on December 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The name of the game is to raise as much money as possible, however, and runners are encouraged to sign up and raise money by creating a profile at aidswalktampabay.org and asking friends and family to donate (either in cash or online). All cash donations must be turned in by 7 p.m. on December 8 and all online donations must be in by 5 p.m. on December 11. There will be awards for individuals and teams who raise the most money and donations turned in before those times will count toward everyone’s final standings. (Additional donations can be turned in later.) As of press time, over $50,000 has already been donated. Organizers are hoping to raise $160,000.
CVSHealth/Caremark is the presenting sponsor of this year’s AIDS Walk Tampa Bay and Fun Run. Hotspots Media Group is proud to be a media sponsor. For more information on the AIDS Walk Tampa Bay and Fun Run, visit aidswalktampabay.org. For more information on ASAP, visit asapservices.org.
