I can't believe it's been a year since I moved back to Stockton and a year since I first got involved with AIDSWalk San Joaquin County. My how time flies! In that year a lot has happened. I joined the Board of Directors of AIDSWalk SJ and have learned a lot about the challenges San Joaquin County faces when it comes to the fight against AIDS/HIV.
When I originally took this journey with AIDSWalk, I did it in honor of the four friends Ive lost to AIDS. I continue my fight in their names but this year, well, this year I am also fighting for someone who is still living. Her name is Esta Lee.
One of my primary roles with AIDSWalk SJ Board is to earn publicity for the event. I decided to interview our Walk's grand marshal and honorary participants and that is how I met Esta. Esta has been HIV positive for 16 years and has been relatively quiet about her status up until this year. When I asked her what made her decide to speak up; she shared, "I'm tired of seeing my friends die."
Okay, I'll keep this short. Many of you went above the call of duty last year and helped me raise an insane amount of money for this wonderful cause. (And some of you recently helped me with my Carnival Snuggie Drive too.) Now that I am volunteering on the Board, I have helped the organization improve its outreach and fundraising efforts. So, this year I want to try something different. I want to be able to show how strong and powerful the grassroots can be. How? I am asking to limit all of my contributions to $10 a person. I want to see how many people I can convince to join this very important cause. My goal is 50 people, can you be one of them?
I know these economic times are tough. If you are unable to make a donation, word of mouth about this event is just as important. Can you share this email with five people in San Joaquin County? Many people think that San Francisco's AIDSWalk raises money for the entire state but all of their funds stay local. With State and County budget cuts and an already challenging fundraising disadvantage (SF AIDSWalk raises $100 for every patient in their county vs. $10 per patient in San Joaquin), your help inviting people to attend the walk is just as important.
The deadline for donations is Friday, April 30th. Like last year, I am asking for this support in lieu of gifts/cards on my birthday (5/23). Also like last year, I would love to have you join me during the walk and for our private barbecue which will be at the home of Mario and Tina Padron in Stockton. This year walk is on May 1st. You can sign up to walk as part of our walk team, House of J, by visiting: http://www.active.com/donate/awsj
Thank you so much for your friendship and love. I couldn't strive to do the community service that I do without it.
Warmest,
Nicholas Hatten
p.s. Here's my entire write up for Esla:
A passionate and inspiring voice, Ms. Lee wants more people within San Joaquin County to know they need to get tested. Lee has been HIV positive for 16 years now and spurred by the desire to prevent further friends from dying, she has become an advocate for public awareness and community involvement. Ms. Lee credits the fundraising efforts of AIDSWalk SJ, and its funding of San Joaquin AIDS Foundation programs with leaving a major impact on her life. Lee shares, ‘It’s a positive relationship. They are helpful, supportive, and encouraging. In the beginning they helped with everything from furniture, bills, and clothing to helping me become employable. They helped me become a student and just to get back into the mainstream of society. Wayne Mock has been my counselor and helped me get into 14 years of clean sobriety, gotten through Delta College and was even there for me with my marriage.”
