BELMONT — House of Mercy, a nonprofit residence serving low-income persons living with AIDS, held its 24th Annual Walk for AIDS April 22. Approximately 300 people participated in the walk on a beautiful spring morning to raise AIDS awareness and funds to benefit House of Mercy.
Stan Patterson, House of Mercy’s president and CEO, welcomed participants and introduced guest speakers Maggie Baucom, House of Mercy’s board chair, and Sister of Mercy Jill Weber, also a member of the board. Both spoke about the impact House of Mercy has made with the help of community support. House of Mercy has been home to 327 men and women living with AIDS. Members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church of Charlotte carried the Walk banner for the three-mile walk.
Following the walk through downtown Belmont, participants gathered on the House of Mercy grounds for a picnic lunch. DJ Buddy Love provided music and inspiration for dancing. Stan Patterson announced $47,717 was raised – surpassing the $41,500 goal and setting a Walk for AIDS record.
Pictured: Walk for AIDS Participants are led by members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church carrying the Walk banner. (Photos provided by Marjorie Storch)
Prizes were awarded to Team Maggie (Board Chair Maggie Baucom) for top fundraising team, who raised $10,000; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for second-place team, for raising $6,038; and Team Palmer (Board Secretary Ellen Palmer) for third-place team, for raising $1,740. Chantelle Hurst was the top individual fundraiser, Alonza Jones was the second-place individual fundraiser and Margaret Mayes was the third-place finisher.
This year’s Walk for AIDS sponsors were St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, Family of Doug Newton, Wells Fargo, RK T-Shirts, WSGE 91.7 FM, St. Gabriel Church of Charlotte, SmartWay, EMD Serono, Rodgers Builders, Gilead, CaroMont Health, BNC Bank, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and St. Aloysius Church of Hickory.
Patterson also thanked all the community partners who have supported House of Mercy since it opened on May 18, 1991.
“With your generous support, we set a Walk for AIDS fundraising record of $47,717 raised,” he said. “These funds will help provide a home and care for low-income persons living with AIDS at House of Mercy. Together we have significantly changed the lives of hundreds of residents and their loved ones. Thank you!”
— Marjorie Storch
Approximately 300 people participated in House of Mercy’s 2017 Walk for AIDS.