September 19, 2013

Publication title: San Diego County News, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Unknown
Writer: Unknown

Singer/Songwriter Sarah McLachlan Contributes To AIDS Walk San Diego’s Social Media Campaign‏

As part of an effort to increase participation in San Diego’s largest one-day HIV/AIDS fundraiser, AIDS Walk, Run & Street Challenge San Diego event organizers have created an innovative and fun social media campaign — “#AWSD is …”

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan has already contributed to the campaign with her own message – “#AWSD is Caring.”

McLachlan has long been active in the fight against HIV/AIDS, performing at numerous events for amFAR, Lifebeat/Music Fights AIDS, UNICEF’s Unite Against AIDS and more. She contributed her song “Hold On” to No Alternative, an AIDS benefit album.

The “#AWSD is …” campaign allows supporters to share a personal photo and text message that illustrates what this community-wide event means to them and/or the 12,500 people living with HIV/AIDS in San Diego. By sharing these heartfelt digital messages, organizers hope to inspire even more people to register for AIDS Walk, Run & Street Challenge, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 29.

“We want to reach out to ask everyone we can to register for the Walk, Run or Street Challenge, and learning about the reasons people participate is always so moving,” said Ian Johnson, teams coordinator for AIDS Walk, Run & Street Challenge San Diego. “We hope these beautiful messages will serve as a call to action and an invitation to join us on Sept. 29.”

AIDS Walk, Run & Street Challenge registration is available online at www.aidswalksd.org.

View some of the digital messages generated by the “AWSD is…” social media campaign.

To participate in the “AWSD is …’’, follow these simple steps to create your special photo and text message:
• Have a photo taken of yourself “holding a heart”
• Download the free smartphone app “Overgram”
• Using Overgram, type a message that starts with “#AWSD is …” and fill in your message
• Post your photo to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media using the hashtag “#AWSD”

Participants may also simply snap a photo and e-mail it along with their “#AWSD is…” statement to Rick Cervantes at The San Diego LGBT Community Center at rcervantes@thecentersd.org. AIDS Walk staff will create a “#AWSD is …” photo for you.