More than 2,000 walkers gathered at Fort Lauderdale Beach for the 21st annual Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival, raising nearly $3 million for 12 South Florida organizations working to combat HIV and AIDS. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s signature fundraiser drew participants along A1A as cheers, music and unity filled the air during the event that combines awareness-raising with stigma-fighting efforts.
“It’s an event that shares the importance of love, togetherness,” one attendee said as participants lined up for the walk. Many walkers brought personal reasons for their participation, with some fulfilling longtime goals. “We’ve always wanted to do this ever since we were kids,” said Princess Williams, reflecting the multigenerational appeal of the cause.
For other participants, the event served as a way to honor those lost during the height of the AIDS epidemic decades ago. The changing landscape of HIV treatment and awareness has transformed the outlook for those living with the virus, according to attendees. “It’s way different from how it used to be. There’s more knowledge now and good medicine,” another walker said. “You see people wanting to live.”
Despite medical advances, advocates emphasized that significant challenges remain in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Organizers highlighted concerns about the future of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, known as ADAP, which provides HIV medication and insurance to low-income individuals. “We are doing everything we can to protect it,” said Tracy Jones with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Life-saving drugs. They are the reason most people are alive.”
State data reveals that more than 51,000 people in Miami-Dade and Broward counties are currently living with HIV, underscoring the continued need for support services and awareness efforts. The $3 million raised will be distributed among the 12 South Florida organizations that provide various forms of assistance to those affected by HIV and AIDS. These funds support everything from medical care and medication assistance to counseling and prevention programs.
The walk portion of the event was followed by a music festival that brought additional energy to the day’s activities. Queen Latifah headlined the musical performances, bringing her star power to the stage and capping off the fundraising event. The combination of the walk and festival format has proven successful in drawing large crowds and maximizing both fundraising potential and community engagement.
For many participants, the event represented both remembrance and celebration, honoring those lost while supporting those currently living with HIV. The gathering served multiple purposes beyond fundraising, creating a space for community building and message-spreading. Organizers emphasized that the event continues to bring people together while spreading messages of love, acceptance and hope throughout South Florida’s HIV-affected communities.