Staff writer
Devereux is a nonprofit organization that provides services around the nation for people with emotional, developmental and educational disabilities.
Currently, the Viera campus on Murrell Road houses 105 children on a permanent basis, with another 16 in an independent living program.
Mark Halal, the interim-administrator, said the event showed a real group effort and a willingness to help others.
"To keep the pressure off the walkers, the teaching and administration staff all made their donations anonymously," he said. "I'm proud of everyone involved with this worthwhile endeavor."
Mr. Halal said the event was held to support a nonprofit organization called Friends-Together, which was represented by its founder, Cathy Robinson-Pickett, and two other volunteers.
Ms. Robinson-Pickett said Friends-Together is a community-based organization that serves the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people affected by HIV.
About 40 adolescents and 18 faculty members spent an hour walking around the 'Devereux Mile' - otherwise known as the outer path of the campus courtyard.
"Everyone involved was excited to be a part of this special walk-a-thon," scheduling coordinator Crystal Stout said. "This project is giving our young adults an opportunity to shift concerns away from themselves and help others in a positive way."
Ms. Robinson-Pickett, who discovered in 1991 that she was HIV positive, said she finally traced the cause of her infection back to a rape that occurred in 1984. Although her attacker was caught and jailed, state laws at the time prevented his victims from being told of his HIV-positive status.
By the time Ms. Robinson-Pickett identified the source of her infection and located 14 other survivors of the rapist, two of the women had died of AIDS. She said this injustice helped her focus her life on a continuing crusade to educate others about HIV and AIDS.
Nowadays, she said, Friends-Together, designed originally to further AIDS advocacy and education, also hosts weekend camps for families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
"You see, they've finally proven only three categories of people get AIDS," she said. "Men, women and children."
Using her own money for travel and living expenses, she drives about 70,000 miles a year around the state of Florida, speaking to classes, student assemblies, conferences and small gatherings such as the walk-a-thon in Viera.
Ms. Robinson-Pickett said organizations like Devereux do a lot more than just help out financially.
Speaking to the students and the faculty who were ready to walk, she said it wasn't about the money.
"Whatever you raise here today will be very much appreciated," she said. "However, not only are you raising money for a worthy cause, but everyone - students and staff - everyone here has a great chance to increase their awareness and knowledge of a terrible disease."
Even as Ms. Robinson-Pickett fights her own daily battle with AIDS, she said she remains a tireless advocate by doing extensive work on AIDS policy and law, lobbing for patient rights, producing educational videos and finding the extra time so she can talk one-on-one to anyone who is interested.
"It was a two-and-a-half hour drive to get here from Lakeland," Ms. Robinson-Pickett said. "But we'll drive wherever we have to, especially if it's to some place like Devereux. All the kids who participated today were between 14 and 17 years old. That means a lot; seeing those young people willing to give up some free time to help support others," she said.
"And it's true, sometimes the best thing we can do is to simply help others."
For more information, visit www.devereux.org or www.friendstogether.org