One person can make a difference

A personal perspective from someone who walks for AIDS Calgary Awareness Association. Thank you to Calvin Campbell for sharing his thoughts and experiences.

Why do you walk?
I walk because I know the good that comes from an organization such as AIDS Calgary. HIV/AIDS is such a terrible disease and is debilitating on so many levels. The physical effects aren’t always the worst, often the emotional and mental can be just as incapacitating. The stigma associated with this disease as well as the ignorance that people have of it makes it so much more awful. The programs are so vital to the people that are living with HIV/AIDS and the education that AIDS Calgary helps to provide is essential to stopping the spread of the disease.

How many years have you walked?
This will be my third year participating in the Walk.

How did you become involved with the AIDS Walk?
I first became involved with the AIDS Walk when I was told by a co-worker that AIDS Calgary was looking for volunteers two years ago to help out with Registration of the walkers. After doing that the first year, I wanted to get more involved so I put together a team of co-workers to do the walk. It was a great experience as I got to meet people from other offices around the city and it was all for a great cause.

Why do you think is it important that corporations support walks like the AIDS Walk?
It is so easy for corporations to get involved with any charity. In economic climates like the one we are now, it doesn’t even always have to be financial; it just takes a bit of time and effort. How hard it is for a group of people to get together for a few hours and raise some money for something that is so important.

What is the Employee Resource Group?
RBC Has a few different Employee Resource Groups but the one that I work with is called PRIDE (Proud RBC Individuals for Diversity and Equality. The goal of PRIDE is to promote an inclusive workplace for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Through education and by acting as a resource, PRIDE aims to enhance employee engagement and retention, and provides feedback on diversity policies and programs.

If you were to motivate someone else to walk, what would you say?
We are all part of the human family. There are so many of us that live with an illness or disease and we must have compassion and empathy for our fellow humans as one day, it may be us in need. With such minimal effort on the part of any volunteer, there is such a great payout that helps with everything from care and medicine for the sick to education and awareness for the community.

Last year, Calvin was able to form a group of 25 walkers from RBC who volunteered a few hours to come out and walk. Together they raised over $3,700 and RBC matched with $2,500. This year Calvin’s goal is to raise $10,000. Go Calvin Go!