Hundreds walk for AIDS awareness in Morristown

MORRISTOWN – Hundreds of people gathered Sunday on the Green in Morristown to participate in the 2015 New Jersey AIDS Walk, a statewide unified event to raise funds and awareness for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Nearly $50,000 was raised to benefit two Morris County organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services: New Jersey AIDS Services in Morristown and Hope House in Dover.

Approximately 300 walkers and 200 volunteers participated in Morristown, according to Joann McEniry, chief operating officer for New Jersey AIDS Services, a nonprofit service organization that provides housing and social services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

New Jersey ranks in the top 10 states with the highest rate of HIV, with nearly 38,000 people currently affected, according to a prepared statement.

The New Jersey AIDS Walk is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with cities in New Jersey which are home to HIV/AIDS service organizations, according to the statement. These cities unite to produce statewide awareness and fundraising walks.

"The New Jersey AIDS Walk is a model of how collaboration among social service organizations can raise awareness and leverage support, accomplishing so much more than working independently," said Laurie Litt-Robbins, chief executive officer of New Jersey AIDS Services, which organized and hosted the walk's Morristown location.

In addition to the Morristown event, which was presented by Janssen Therapeutics, walks also took place in Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Newark and Ridgewood. A unified step-off in all cities was held at 1 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., and Morristown Mayor Timothy P. Dougherty also attended the local event.

Additional event sponsors included Walgreens Pharmacy, Merck Pharmaceuticals and White's Pharmacy in Morristown.

McEniry said donations are still being accepted at www.njaidswalkmorristown.kintera.org.