Walk for AIDS, hepatitis at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

[Guest guest]

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=248854

Walk for AIDS, hepatitis at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sierra HOPE will host their 12th Sierra AIDS Walk, a hike for AIDS and

hepatitis, on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

The walk is a major fund-raising event for Sierra HOPE, a nonprofit organization

providing a variety of educational and support services for HIV/AIDS and

Hepatitis C in Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. They were founded in

Sonora as the Sierra AIDS Council in 1990.

Sierra HOPE Executive Director, Jerry Cadotte, says that he often hears from

local residents who participate in one of the large AIDS fund-raising events,

such as the San Francisco AIDS Walk or the California AIDS Ride.

" I tell them: 'That's great, but we need your help locally too.' They're often

surprised to learn that Sierra HOPE doesn't benefit from the big events. "

Most of the funding for Sierra HOPE's services comes from government contracts

and grants, but an increasing amount must be raised locally, through

fund-raising and individual donations. This year that amount is $30,000.

The first Sierra AIDS Walk was held in 1995 at Columbia Community College.

Subsequent walks have been held in Sonora and Twain Harte, and returned to

Columbia in 2004. The most successful year saw about 50 participants, but

numbers have fallen off in recent years.

" We're hoping that people from all over California will be drawn to the

beautiful surroundings at Calaveras Big Trees, " said Cadotte. To attract

participants from outside of the three-county service area, Sierra HOPE is

offering to share the pledges they raise with an AIDS or hepatitis charity

organization in their hometown.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Stockton on State Highway 4, 4

miles northeast of Arnold, at the mid-elevation level of the western Sierra

Nevada.

Giant sequoias dominate ponderosa pines, sugar pines, incense cedars and white

fir. The trails in the park have something to offer walkers of different skill

and stamina levels. The North Grove features a 1.5 mile level, self-guided trail

that is barrier free. The more challenging 5-mile trail in the South Grove

passes the park's two largest trees. And the 600 foot long Three Senses Trail,

one of the earliest accessible design trails in the State Park system, allows

visitors to experience the feel, smell and sounds of this magnificent forest.

Sierra HOPE will provide a special welcome packet and picnic lunch to all

participants. Individuals who raise $100 or more in pledges will also receive a

free T-shirt. Registration is available online at www.sierrahope.org, or call

Sierra HOPE at 736-6792.

[Guest guest]

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=248854

Walk for AIDS, hepatitis at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sierra HOPE will host their 12th Sierra AIDS Walk, a hike for AIDS and

hepatitis, on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

The walk is a major fund-raising event for Sierra HOPE, a nonprofit organization

providing a variety of educational and support services for HIV/AIDS and

Hepatitis C in Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. They were founded in

Sonora as the Sierra AIDS Council in 1990.

Sierra HOPE Executive Director, Jerry Cadotte, says that he often hears from

local residents who participate in one of the large AIDS fund-raising events,

such as the San Francisco AIDS Walk or the California AIDS Ride.

" I tell them: 'That's great, but we need your help locally too.' They're often

surprised to learn that Sierra HOPE doesn't benefit from the big events. "

Most of the funding for Sierra HOPE's services comes from government contracts

and grants, but an increasing amount must be raised locally, through

fund-raising and individual donations. This year that amount is $30,000.

The first Sierra AIDS Walk was held in 1995 at Columbia Community College.

Subsequent walks have been held in Sonora and Twain Harte, and returned to

Columbia in 2004. The most successful year saw about 50 participants, but

numbers have fallen off in recent years.

" We're hoping that people from all over California will be drawn to the

beautiful surroundings at Calaveras Big Trees, " said Cadotte. To attract

participants from outside of the three-county service area, Sierra HOPE is

offering to share the pledges they raise with an AIDS or hepatitis charity

organization in their hometown.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Stockton on State Highway 4, 4

miles northeast of Arnold, at the mid-elevation level of the western Sierra

Nevada.

Giant sequoias dominate ponderosa pines, sugar pines, incense cedars and white

fir. The trails in the park have something to offer walkers of different skill

and stamina levels. The North Grove features a 1.5 mile level, self-guided trail

that is barrier free. The more challenging 5-mile trail in the South Grove

passes the park's two largest trees. And the 600 foot long Three Senses Trail,

one of the earliest accessible design trails in the State Park system, allows

visitors to experience the feel, smell and sounds of this magnificent forest.

Sierra HOPE will provide a special welcome packet and picnic lunch to all

participants. Individuals who raise $100 or more in pledges will also receive a

free T-shirt. Registration is available online at www.sierrahope.org, or call

Sierra HOPE at 736-6792.

[Guest guest]

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=248854

Walk for AIDS, hepatitis at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sierra HOPE will host their 12th Sierra AIDS Walk, a hike for AIDS and

hepatitis, on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

The walk is a major fund-raising event for Sierra HOPE, a nonprofit organization

providing a variety of educational and support services for HIV/AIDS and

Hepatitis C in Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. They were founded in

Sonora as the Sierra AIDS Council in 1990.

Sierra HOPE Executive Director, Jerry Cadotte, says that he often hears from

local residents who participate in one of the large AIDS fund-raising events,

such as the San Francisco AIDS Walk or the California AIDS Ride.

" I tell them: 'That's great, but we need your help locally too.' They're often

surprised to learn that Sierra HOPE doesn't benefit from the big events. "

Most of the funding for Sierra HOPE's services comes from government contracts

and grants, but an increasing amount must be raised locally, through

fund-raising and individual donations. This year that amount is $30,000.

The first Sierra AIDS Walk was held in 1995 at Columbia Community College.

Subsequent walks have been held in Sonora and Twain Harte, and returned to

Columbia in 2004. The most successful year saw about 50 participants, but

numbers have fallen off in recent years.

" We're hoping that people from all over California will be drawn to the

beautiful surroundings at Calaveras Big Trees, " said Cadotte. To attract

participants from outside of the three-county service area, Sierra HOPE is

offering to share the pledges they raise with an AIDS or hepatitis charity

organization in their hometown.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Stockton on State Highway 4, 4

miles northeast of Arnold, at the mid-elevation level of the western Sierra

Nevada.

Giant sequoias dominate ponderosa pines, sugar pines, incense cedars and white

fir. The trails in the park have something to offer walkers of different skill

and stamina levels. The North Grove features a 1.5 mile level, self-guided trail

that is barrier free. The more challenging 5-mile trail in the South Grove

passes the park's two largest trees. And the 600 foot long Three Senses Trail,

one of the earliest accessible design trails in the State Park system, allows

visitors to experience the feel, smell and sounds of this magnificent forest.

Sierra HOPE will provide a special welcome packet and picnic lunch to all

participants. Individuals who raise $100 or more in pledges will also receive a

free T-shirt. Registration is available online at www.sierrahope.org, or call

Sierra HOPE at 736-6792.

[Guest guest]

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=248854

Walk for AIDS, hepatitis at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sierra HOPE will host their 12th Sierra AIDS Walk, a hike for AIDS and

hepatitis, on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

The walk is a major fund-raising event for Sierra HOPE, a nonprofit organization

providing a variety of educational and support services for HIV/AIDS and

Hepatitis C in Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. They were founded in

Sonora as the Sierra AIDS Council in 1990.

Sierra HOPE Executive Director, Jerry Cadotte, says that he often hears from

local residents who participate in one of the large AIDS fund-raising events,

such as the San Francisco AIDS Walk or the California AIDS Ride.

" I tell them: 'That's great, but we need your help locally too.' They're often

surprised to learn that Sierra HOPE doesn't benefit from the big events. "

Most of the funding for Sierra HOPE's services comes from government contracts

and grants, but an increasing amount must be raised locally, through

fund-raising and individual donations. This year that amount is $30,000.

The first Sierra AIDS Walk was held in 1995 at Columbia Community College.

Subsequent walks have been held in Sonora and Twain Harte, and returned to

Columbia in 2004. The most successful year saw about 50 participants, but

numbers have fallen off in recent years.

" We're hoping that people from all over California will be drawn to the

beautiful surroundings at Calaveras Big Trees, " said Cadotte. To attract

participants from outside of the three-county service area, Sierra HOPE is

offering to share the pledges they raise with an AIDS or hepatitis charity

organization in their hometown.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Stockton on State Highway 4, 4

miles northeast of Arnold, at the mid-elevation level of the western Sierra

Nevada.

Giant sequoias dominate ponderosa pines, sugar pines, incense cedars and white

fir. The trails in the park have something to offer walkers of different skill

and stamina levels. The North Grove features a 1.5 mile level, self-guided trail

that is barrier free. The more challenging 5-mile trail in the South Grove

passes the park's two largest trees. And the 600 foot long Three Senses Trail,

one of the earliest accessible design trails in the State Park system, allows

visitors to experience the feel, smell and sounds of this magnificent forest.

Sierra HOPE will provide a special welcome packet and picnic lunch to all

participants. Individuals who raise $100 or more in pledges will also receive a

free T-shirt. Registration is available online at www.sierrahope.org, or call

Sierra HOPE at 736-6792.