World Aids Day Health Fair and Awareness Day on Dec. 1 in Muskegon Community College’s Collegiate Hall will feature health information and free testing in the morning and afternoon, and music, dance, presentations, networking and a moment of reflection during the early evening.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is organized by Muskegon’s Coalition for HIV Awareness and Prevention and is co-sponsored by Mercy Health Partners, Benson Drug Co., and the McClees Clinic.
The health fair, which runs from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., offers the chance to interact with various health providers, health groups, and social groups and to obtain free HIV testing.
Between 5:30-7 p.m., World AIDS Day activities will include a piano duet by Frank Lee ad Erik Lee, a solo by Erik Lee, a performance by singer Adam Johnson, an interpretive dance number and songs from the musical “Rent” by Gay-Straight Alliances from MCC and the area, a talk by Rick Otterbein on the stigma of AIDS, the presentation of the 2011 McClees Award for community awareness and advocacy, and a moment of silence for those who have died from the devastating disease.
The first-ever global health day, World AIDS Day began in 1988 as an opportunity to raise awareness about and show support for those affected by the disease, while remembering those who have died from it.