APLA Health Launches AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2021 Hosted by Ongina of RuPaul’s Drag Race

AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2021 is officially off and walking! APLA Health opens registration and fundraising for AIDS Walk LA at aidswalkla.org

APLA Health has partnered with Ongina to host their new weekly online video talk show, The Walk Show. Every week Ongina will “walk” participants through weekly challenges, community stories, fundraising tips and much more! She will also join ABC7’s televised Localish LA AIDS Walk Special airing in September. This year’s AIDS Walk LA concludes on Sunday, October 3rd.

Ongina, contestant on the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, emotionally disclosed her HIV-positive status after winning a challenge on the show. Her subsequent work as a vocal HIV activist makes her the perfect choice to host The Walk Show. Beyond the fun, each episode will feature firsthand accounts of how AIDS Walk fundraising efforts support the vital work of APLA Health as well as other HIV/AIDS service organizations.

Now in its 37th year, AIDS Walk Los Angeles is tied to the communities in which they serve. They have pulled together some of the most scenic, iconic and walkable places in LA County in the form of Road To Stardom challenges that AIDS Walk LA participants can complete in-person on their own or with friends, family, teams and co-workers. Follow along and learn more at aidswalkla.org/stardom

“While COVID-19 continues to prevent AIDS Walk Los Angeles from being an in-person gathering for all of our community, the purpose of the event remains unchanged,” said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health. “In this moment of pandemic fatigue, we must be united in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic as well. Through the use of tools like PrEP and PEP, the science of Undetectable = Untransmittable, and working to ensure broad access to healthcare, we can make a real impact and create a steeper decline in the number of new HIV diagnoses in Los Angeles County.”

This year’s AIDS Walk Los Angeles is supported by more than thirty generous sponsors. Premier Sponsors include Gilead Sciences, Inc., Starbucks Pride Network & Paul Hastings. Grand Sponsors include ABC7, Paramount Pictures & ViiV Healthcare. Principal Sponsors include Latham & Watkins, Quest Diagnostics, Anthem Blue Cross & Playboy. Major Sponsors include Capital Group, Albertsons, Premier Pharmacy Services, Crown Media Family Networks & Mattel. Supporting Sponsors include Oaktree Capital Management, Royal Bank of Canada, Northrop Grumman, Room & Board, Janssen, Tito’s Handmade Vodka & AT&T. Event Sponsors include KPMG, Hathaway Dinwiddie, Amgen, City National Bank, Genoa Healthcare, Klawiter and Associates, LADWP, The Dietz Agency, Parker Brown & Bank of America.

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