Hamilton hosted the 14th annual AIDS Hike for Life on April 29, and in a huge turnout, Mohawk Valley residents raised approximately $50,000 to support AIDS Community Resources in its efforts to prevent the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
AIDS Community Resources of Central New York organized the event with the assistance of Hamilton senior class president Adrian Ntwatwa. In an interview Ntwatwa noted that his native Uganda is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the few African success stories in the fight against HIV.
AIDS Community Resources Executive Director Michael Crinnin says the money raised during Sunday's event will help AIDS Community Resources programs like the Teen AIDS Task Force, or TATF.
TATF educates youth about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and served more than 800 young people in the Mohawk Valley in 2011.
Ntwatwa says, "Uganda is a region that has a lot of AIDS, and so for me, it's really personal, as a role that I have to play, and it's something I really felt strongly about and it's something I wanted to take charge of."
