Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) is taking their 30th annual LifeWalk “Totally Virtual” with a fun and informative monthly event series beginning July 31 and culminating with the LifeWalk 2020 Main Event on October 11, 2020. LifeWalk is an annual 5k event through the Turtle Creek and Uptown neighborhoods typically held every October with festivities at Turtle Creek Park including free HIV testing, music, games, and more. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and after careful consideration, PHNTX has made the decision to hold LifeWalk 2020 and all related events virtually allowing all to participate, rain or shine.
COVID-19 has brought unique challenges to PHNTX as they focus on their mission of advancing the health of North Texans through education, research, prevention, and personalized integrated HIV care. With the belief that providing access to expert healthcare must be a community commitment, the PHNTX team has worked hard to implement their telehealth services ahead of schedule and make resources like the Empowerment Center, case management, and other patient care available online anytime.
PHNTX has seen a significant increase in the number of returning and new patients, along with an increasing number of partner agencies reaching out for referrals and services during the pandemic. This is compounded with patients experiencing job loss, loss of health insurance, loss of housing, and the fear of the unknown. People living with compromised immune systems can be at more risk of illness from exposure to COVID-19. With the increased focus on maintaining a healthy immune system to reduce the risk of exposure, Prism Health North Texas has been shifting and responding to the changing needs of the community and our patients.
“While we were looking forward to seeing everyone at our 30th annual LifeWalk, we are thrilled to launch this “Totally Virtual” event series in tandem with our telehealth services and virtual community
empowerment events,” PHNTX Events Manager Terry Walker said. “The pandemic has elevated North Texans’ need for our services, and we hope to raise $500,000 to provide resources and to support our patients.”
The Totally Virtual Event series includes the following schedule:
July 31 – 90’s Trivia Night
August 14 – Virtual Beer Tasting with Peticolas Brewing Company
August 20 – 24 – Team Clover Open Online Silent Auction from August 20th through the 24
September 20-25 – LifeWalk Pet Paparazzi
September 25 – 90’s Virtual Dance Party
October 11 – Theirtual LifeWalk 2020 Main Event
All events have opportunities to win cash prizes and other surprises.
“The first annual LifeWalk was held in 1990 in the early years of the AIDS epidemic,” Walker said. “By taking this year “Totally Virtual” we hope to call on 90’s nostalgia and invite participants to get just as excited in front of their computer screens as they likely were back in the days of dial-up and AOL. I know we are going to be treated to some wonderful costumes and outfits on our participants’ screens. We want to celebrate how far we’ve come while maintaining safety standards.”
Participants can sign up for the Virtual Events at www.LifeWalk.org where information for events held through Zoom, a video conference system, can be found. To secure a spot in LifeWalk 2020,
participants are encouraged to sign up as individuals or with a team to crush their fundraising goals. Each participant raising $500 earns a LifeWalk gift box. Using the provided resource page and social
media, individuals and teams can get started on fundraising while they limber up for any and all 5k activities on October 11. Rather than taking the streets together, LifeWalkers can walk, run, rollerblade, bike, or do any activity they want for 5 kilometers, 3.1 miles, or 3,100 steps (or do 30 pushups for LifeWalk’s 30th anniversary), share their hard work on social media with #LifeWalk2020, and then tune into the livestreamed celebration with entertainment and surprises.
Learn more about LifeWalk at LifeWalk.org.
