BY CATHY DYSON
The Stafford County-based foundation HOME, which stands for Home of Miracles and Embraces Inc., will hold several events on June 26, National HIV Testing Day.
The first event is a 5K walk and run at Cannon Ridge Golf Club in Stafford, starting at 8 a.m. Last year's inaugural event attracted 364 walkers and runners; this year's goal is 500 participants, said Ozzy Ramos, founder of HOME.
Later that day, events will move to Gold's Gym on Plank Road in Fredericksburg. Participants will work out to the Zumba routine, which features different-paced rhythms and workouts to various types of music. Zumba classes will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. People can bring photos of those who've passed away from AIDS or are infected to post on a wall during the classes.
The purpose of the events is to raise the level of awareness by offering educational information and free testing. Events in Massachusetts and New York will focus on the same message. "The fight against [this] disease is not over yet," Ramos said.
HOME focuses on stopping the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Every 9 minutes, on average, someone in the United States is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
More than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Of that number, one in five do not know they are infected, according to the HOME website.
Ramos founded HOME in 2006. In the 1980s, when he was a married Marine, his young daughter developed respiratory problems and eventually was diagnosed with AIDS/HIV. Further tests showed his wife had contracted the disease from her first husband and passed it along to their daughter as well as her son from the previous marriage.
Ramos became an activist for AIDS patients as he watched his young family wither away. After they died, he didn't talk about AIDS or deal with the issue for years. Almost two decades later, he felt compelled to help children and knew he had to assist those suffering from AIDS.
More information about the June 26 events and registration are available at iwannagohome.org.
Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com