October AIDS walk launched in Beijing

Plans for an AIDS walk, to raise funds to tackle the disease, were announced in Sanlitun, Beijing on Thursday.

Representatives from the China Population Welfare Foundation, UNAIDS China Office as well as civil organizations attended the ceremony.

The walk will take place on the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall in Hebei province on Oct 13.

Guy Taylor, from UNAIDS China Office, said the event will help raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS and combat discrimination against patients.

Zhao Zheng, who works for an NGO that fights against discrimination, shared his experience as a HIV carrier after he was diagnosed last year.

Applications for the event and information are available online.

Film star Xu Qing also attended the ceremony as ambassador for the event that attracted 120 hikers last year.