AIDS walks held in Los Angeles, Atlanta, southern Arizona

AIDS walk fund-raisers were held in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and southern Arizona on October 20, raising upward of $2.7 million for HIV/AIDS charities. In Los Angeles, about 20,000 people participated in the six-mile AIDS Walk, raising an estimated $2.5 million for AIDS Project Los Angeles, which provides services to adults and children in the greater L.A. area. "Thanks for caring about your brothers and sisters," said Los Angeles mayor James Hahn before the walk. "Keep walking, and we will beat this one day."

More than 14,000 people participated in the 10K AIDS Walk Atlanta, including American Idol finalist Nikki McKibbin. Fund-raising figures from the event are expected to be released later this month. And about 3,000 people participated in southern Arizona's 14th annual AIDS Walk, held in Tucson. More than $200,000 was raised for area HIV/AIDS organizations.