Andrea Williams, Inspiration for HBO Movie, Named Grand Marshall of Hudson Valley AIDS Walk

July 10, 2008

For immediate release

Hawthorne, NY - AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS) today announced that Andrea Williams, an AIDS education activist and national speaker, will serve as Grand Marshall for the 17 th Annual Hudson Valley AIDS Walk. The AIDS Walk, which is the region's only walkathon which raises funds to support the local fight against HIV/AIDS, will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Poughkeepsie's Waryas Park. The event benefits ARCS and its partner agencies serving HIV-positive individuals and families in the Hudson Valley .

Andrea Williams, whose life story inspired the 2007 HBO movie "Life Support" starring Queen Latifah, is a lifelong resident of Brooklyn , NY but is committed to stopping the spread of HIV in all regions. A former drug abuser and the mother of three daughters, she has been married to Les Williams for nineteen years. Andrea was diagnosed with HIV in 1993. After her diagnosis she volunteered as a peer educator for seven years at a Brooklyn-based HIV prevention program. Today Andrea continues to touch the lives of those she encounters in her new position at Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center and as a public speaker across the country. Andrea has been featured in the NY Daily News, Essence and Jet. She was also Woman of the Month for POZ.com.

“We are thrilled to have Andrea as our Grand Marshall,” said Jeff Kraus, ARCS' Executive Director. “Her dedication to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic is inspirational, not only because she inspired a critically-acclaimed movie, but for her strength and continued commitment to preventing others from acquiring HIV.”

The Hudson Valley AIDS Walk is sponsored by the Poughkeepsie Journal, 92.1 Lite FM, Starbucks, Hannaford Supermarkets, Diversified Investment Advisors, Ulster Publishing, Inside OUT Hudson Valley, and Primetime Nightclub, and is hosted by the City of Poughkeepsie. Proceeds benefit ARCS and other service providers, including the LOFT Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center and the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center (list in formation).

The Hudson Valley AIDS Walk features a two-mile walk, entertainment, music, food, prizes, a health fair, and activities for the entire family. To sign up as a walker or to form a Walk Team, visit www.arcs.org or call (914) 785-8283.

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For more information on ARCS or the Hudson Valley AIDS Walk, contact J. Dewey at (914) 785 -8326 or jdewey @arcs.org .

Hudson Valley AIDS Walk

Date Posted: July 10, 2008