I'm raising money for the 2007 LA AIDS Walk

This year I decided to participate in something that I've been wanting to do for a long time: walk in the 2007 Los Angeles AIDS Walk. ( I have also wanted to do one of the AIDS Bike Rides too, but that involves a lot more planning and prep... I'll do it someday...)

My awesome cousin, Jeff Shelby, was one of my inspirations for this walk. He participates every year up in San Francisco, and he diligently raises A LOT MORE money than I ever will. (I think he has a lot more friends than me!) Some other people who have inspired me are Kevin Walsh (whom I sponsored in the AIDS Bike ride EONS ago) and another friend of a friend named Glen Rutter (whom I also sponsored once for the AIDS Bike ride).


Click Here to Donate

Given the fact that I am a lowly PhD student, I am obviously not a wealthy person - and neither are many of my friends. So when I decided to do the walk, I didn't feel very hopeful about raising a lot of money. So, I decided to make up for the lack of monetary donations by starting a team through the UCLA History Grad Student Association (HGSA) - hoping that that might raise more awareness and support for the whole event.

The idea was very fortunate - because through the team, we've thus far managed to recruit 9 walkers AND we've topped the goal of $1000 to raise as a group. Here (above) is a thermometer showing how much our team has raised so far...


Click Here to Donate

I am super happy about this. This second thermometer (above, again) shows how much I have been able to raise individually through some awesome family and friends. (Thank you Mom, Dad, Bro Eric, Jeff, Greg, Aunt Carol, Uncle Marv, Aunt Marlene and Uncle Manuel, Aunt Teri and Uncle John, and Aunt Janet ... Also thanks to my friends Mia, Nick, Darin, Peggy, Angel and Matt, Helena, and Vinh... ooooooh! I know I must be leaving someone really important out - I'm so sorry) This amount was added to the amount shown above in the group thermometer. (Or to put it another way, the amount shown in the group thermometer includes what I have raised in addition to what the other members -whom I recruited! - on the HGSA team have raised.)