Robert Katz, assistant web editor
AIDS Walk Los Angeles ‘12, an annual walkathon fundraiser held in West Hollywood, earned the attendance of over 120 students walking to support AIDS charities, as well as that of students providing assistance at the event. School clubs and groups such as the Community Service Club, Robotics and Service Learning aided event organizers by performing services such as clearing trash and monitoring pedestrian traffic.
A team for Beverly was assembled by Service Learning, gathering about 90 students in addition to Service Learning’s 30 members. The Community Service Club monitored walker progress, cheering them on and directing them, in addition to clearing roads for oncoming vehicles and staff, while Robotics passed the hours by throwing away emptied bottles and garbage left by walkers.
“There were a lot of Beverly kids there and they behaved very admirably,” chemistry teacher Lisa Dickens said. “I talked to a couple people along the route and they had some insightful, deeply-held beliefs about helping people less fortunate than they.”
The Walk, which earned more than 2.2 million dollars in donations, including 1,600 dollars from Beverly students, spread across 6.2 miles of West Hollywood, beginning and circling back to West Hollywood Park. The crowds of walkers, some in groups representing families, schools and organizations, finished their journey at a finish line adorned with an array of colored balloons.
More coverage of AIDS Walk will be available in the Oct. 26 print edition of Highlights.