Ticket info: www.jello-wresting.org, 520-628-7223, sponsored by Southern Arizona Aids Foundation.

Saturday April 27, 2013

NEW LOCATION: The Slaughterhouse 1102 W. Grant Road

3:00pm Gates Open/Pre-Event Games & Festivities

4:00pm Wrestling & Live Auction Begins

8:00pm Event Ends

The 26th Annual Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza and Benefit Auction will be held on Saturday April 27, 2013 at The Slaughterhouse, located at 1102 West Grant Road, just east of the I-10 access ramp.

Teams of wrestlers raise funds to wrestle in a pit of Jell-O, often with extraordinary costumes and characters. Between wrestling matches our Drag Diva Hostesses run a live auction featuring a variety of unique items selected to please the crowd.

I’ve seen regular wrestling, but never mud wrestling or this stranger version of Jello wrestling. But check it out on April 27 for this benefit. I reported on it last year with background on founder the late Reno Gannon (click here).

Aidswalk 2010 banner

22nd Annual Aidswalk coming up on Sunday October 17, early morning at University of Arizona mall (schedule below):

7:00 registration & check in
7:30 10K fun run starts
8:15 Daybreak Quilt opening ceremony
9:00 Aidswalk 5K walk opening ceremony
9:30 5Kwalk starts
10:00 entertainment begins – food, fun, kids’ activities, music

Register online at www.tucsonaidswalk.org , please help fundraise & support this event.
Or call Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) at (520) 628-7223 or Toll Free: (800) 771-9054.

Fellow blogger “Rainbow Ramblings” encouraged people to participate in Aidswalk yesterday: click here.

Thousands of people turn out for this event every year to fight the battle against AIDS. And I usually walk in memory of my friend F. Leo Brown (of Connecticut & New York) who died from AIDS back in 1991 at age 49.

Walk the Walk!

AIDS ribbon

Read the full text of the Resolution below, unanimously (5-0) passed by the Board on May 11, 2010 and signed by Board Chair Ramon Valadez.

“WHEREAS, people of Pima County will join those in more than 1,200 other communities in more than 100 countries to observe the 27th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, the oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness in the world; and

WHEREAS, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is based on four simple principles: to honor the memory of those lost to AIDS; to show support for those living with HIV and AIDS; to raise community awareness and eliminate stigma related to HIV and AIDS; and to mobilize community involvement in the fight against HIV and AIDS; and

WHEREAS, our observance in Pima County derives from the cooperation of many local agencies, including AIDS Ribbon Tucson, Be Positive Tucson, City of Tucson Human Relations Commission, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network, Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona, and Wingspan; and

WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS continues to impact the lives of citizens of all ages, races, and genders living and working in Pima County and across Southern Arizona.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Pima County Board of Supervisors hereby declares May 16, 2010, to be:
“INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL DAY”
in Pima County, and encourages everyone to join together in the family-friendly International AIDS Candlelight Memorial event in Himmel Park on Sunday, May 16, at 6 p.m.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of May, 2010.”

One of my dear friends F. Leo Brown died from AIDS in 1991 in New York City. I will light a candle in his memory tonight. For more info: www.candlelightmemorial.org.
_____________________________________

Aidswalk 2009 bookmark

Sunday October 11, 2009 is the date for the upcoming 21st Tucson Aidswalk event, once more to be held at the U of A. The official website is: www.aidswalktucson.com sponsored by the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation. Blogger Mark Kerr “Tucson Observer” has already blogged on this event, but I wanted to repeat it for the readers out there.

I am usually able to raise about $200 to $300 each time I participate in Aidswalk. A few years ago I was interviewed by a reporter from this newspaper, as to why I walked.

My niece Tiffany raised an astonishing $3,000 for the Honolulu Aidswalk this past April. I’m so proud of her for caring so much to help this cause.

“This year’s message, I walk because…it allows people to share their story. I walk because…every 9½ minutes someone is infected with HIV. I walk because…approximately 2 young Americans under the age of 24 become infected with HIV every hour of every day. I walk because…everyone has an HIV status. I walk because… ”

Thousands and thousands of people show up on the U of A mall– to run the 10K, walk the 5K, check out the educational booths, snack on free food and listen to the entertainment, lend support, socialize, etc.

“I walk because”…this event is all about community in Southern Arizona.