As World AIDS Day 2008 approaches, I look back at my experiences as I, along with thousands of others, joined the band Hanson on their quest to “walk around the world” to raise awareness
of AIDS in Africa.

I have been a Hanson fan for over 11 years. Yes, that’s right I said Hanson, as in “MMMBOP” Hanson. I have heard all the questions possible as to why I am still a fan or do they still make music. Hanson not only still makes music, but also makes a difference in the world, one barefoot walker at a time.

Their past three tours have supported their fourth studio album, The Walk. Prior to each concert, Hanson invites fans and non-fans in the area of the show to partake in a one-mile barefoot walk to raise AIDS Awareness. Many children in Africa do not own a pair of shoes. Hanson asks fans to try to walk barefoot, to feel empathy of what the children go through each day.

I have thus far participated
in five walks and walked three walks barefoot. The mixture of the last walk’s freezing temperature and concrete walkway caused me to keep my sneakers on, but there were still hundreds of fans who took their shoes off and braved the frigid cold.

The first time I took the walk in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., I was more concerned with trying to walk next to one of my idols. I was so preoccupied with the idea that the band who’s music I have followed for over half my life, was within an arm’s distance.

With each walk, I became more aware of why I walked, not who I walked with. I loved the idea that I was part of a bigger group making a statement in whatever city the walk took place whether it was through the streets of Northampton, M.A. with cars stopping, asking what the commotion was about or around Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, M.A. passing restaurants with curious people asking themselves why hundreds of people just walked by the window, barefoot in below negative temperatures.

This past tour, “The Walk Around the World Tour”, named for the goal to have 24,904 miles walked, not only made a statement about walking barefoot, but also donated a dollar for each walk participant. The walker chose from a list of five items to decide where he or she wanted the dollar to count. For my first walk, I put the dollar towards a pair of shoes while the second I made my
dollar count towards access to a medical facility.

I walked to better a child’s life who was affected by AIDS in any way. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of community I felt with hundreds of strangers.

A dollar seems so small of an amount, but with over three hundred walkers at some stops on the tour, a difference was made. It was amazing to see hundreds of fans show up to the concert hours beforehand to partake in the event.

I had a great sense of accomplishment after each walk that I made a difference, even if was a small one.

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The Interact Club at Baton Rouge Magnet High School set out to join a project promoted by the band Hanson, hoping to contribute $500.

The club collected almost triple its goal: $1,345.90 has been sent to Take the Walk to help buy TOMS Shoes for children in Africa and other places where there is a need, said Angela Chun, BRHS senior and Interact president.

Providing shoes, one of the five ways Take the Walk attempts to combat the challenges faced in Africa, is one that particularly concerns Hanson.

To promote their shoe-donating cause and an understanding of what it means to have no shoes, the Hanson brothers — Isaac, Taylor and Zac — have a goal to “walk” with others barefoot around the world, a total of 24,902 miles.

The number needed to reach their goal has dwindled through 1-mile walks by Hanson and fans before concerts and groups such as the BRMHS club sponsoring a Take the Walk event.

The 160 miles walked in Baton Rouge is now part of the 14,843 miles on the online odometer as of 1 p.m. Nov. 25.

The local barefoot-walked miles were achieved by participants walking three times around the newly renovated BREC’s Baton Rouge City Park walking trail on Nov. 15.

Chun said she is amazed at the positive response from the community for what was planned originally as a school club event.

“Once the word got out, kids from all around the city contacted me saying they wanted to help out. Strangers would stop me on the street to pull out a dollar and wish me good luck,” she said.

Businesses donated food and gift certificates, and one employee of a local fast-food restaurant decided to make her own donation after overhearing Chun’s request to her manager.

The employee, Celeste Davila, not only baked 100 Kellogg’s Rice Krispies treats, but also took water, Chun said.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our community and am so proud that we were all able to rally together to help change the lives of impoverished children around the world,” Chun said.

There is one more way Chun personally aided the cause. Whenever a pair of his company’s shoes is purchased, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie donates an equal pair to a deserving child. TOMS shoes are available at Whole Foods Market, in Towne Center at 7529 Corporate Blvd., and Noelie Harmon, 7580 Corporate Blvd.

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Pop band Hanson, Miss New York, Comptroller Thompson to participate

On December 1, 2008, Housing Works will hold its annual 24-hour “Reading of the Names” vigil in City Hall Park to commemorate the lives of people who have died of AIDS and remind New York City and State officials that they need a strategy to stem the rising tide of HIV infections. For 24 hours, hundreds of Housing Works staff, clients and volunteers will continuously read the names of thousands of people who have died of AIDS.

Housing Works will be joined by New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., Miss New York Leigh-Taylor Smith and Grammy-nominated band and AIDS activists Hanson.

WHAT: Annual “Reading of the Names” vigil
WHEN: From 12:01 am to midnight, December 1, 2008
WHERE: Southern tip of City Hall Park at Broadway and Park Place
WHO:

New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr. (reads at noon)

Leigh-Taylor Smith, reigning Miss New York (reads at 7:15pm)

Grammy-nominated band Hanson (arrives approximately 9:30pm)

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control released data showing that the rate of new HIV infections among New York City residents is three times the national average. Approximately 10 percent of the more than 1 million people in the U.S. living with HIV/AIDS live in New York City.

“It is unconscionable that even before the current national fiscal crisis hit, our elected officials slashed funds for HIV prevention and testing. We hope that the echoes of the names of those who have died from AIDS ringing through City Hall Park on World AIDS Day will remind our leaders of their responsibility to fight AIDS,” said Housing Works President and CEO Charles King.

HOUSING WORKS is the largest community-based AIDS service organization in the United States, as well as the nation’s largest minority-controlled AIDS service organization. Since our founding in 1990, we have provided lifesaving services, such as housing, medical and mental health care, meals, job training, drug treatment, HIV prevention education, and social support to more than 20,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.

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