Consolidating three honors theses, three seniors will present the "Save a Life" AIDS benefit concert Sunday.
The line-up, from noon to 6 p.m. at LaFollette Field, includes The Josh Holmes Band, Hip Hop Anonymous and Radius. Organizations, such as the AIDS Awareness Task Force of East Central Indiana and the Delaware County Health Department, will provide AIDS information and testing, along with free condoms.
Kallie Haas, Kristin Rennels and Sarah Apgar began scheduling the concert in January. Haas said the trio has received $1,500 worth of donations so far. She said that money covers the cost of the concession stand, electrician and bands.
Open Door Community Services will receive the total raised from the concert's $4 admission fee, Haas said.
Haas and Apgar said they're focusing on AIDS awareness because no other campus groups have focused on it.
"I really saw a lack of organizations and events specifically on campus that promote awareness and knowledge of AIDS," Apgar said. "I wanted to open that door and give people as much information as possible."
Haas said that growing up in the '80s, when the AIDS epidemic really became public, she was scared of the disease.
"I had always wanted to help out with it and fix it," Haas said. "I didn't know what kind of money we'd raise and donate to Open Door."
Kim Wheat, HIV program manager at Open Door, said money from the concert will provide AIDS patients with food and medicine. Wheat said most people live paycheck to paycheck, and they risk losing their jobs after disease fatigues them.
"It's hard for people to understand the amount of fatigue and psychological trauma that patients go through," Wheat said. "If they're not well enough to stand on their feet at a cash register for eight hours, the employer is not going to keep them around."
Wheat said many patients are too sick to work, and food stamps don't buy paper towels or other toiletries.
"We rely on fund raisers and donations to help the people in crisis," Wheat said.
Haas said planning the event hasn't been stressful because of how well the trio works together.
"We've been pushing each other to be better than we ever thought we could be," Haas said. "There's no way one person could've gotten it done in one semester."
Apgar said she hopes to unite students and the Muncie community through providing information on AIDS and other STDs.
"I have no concept of how many people we can bring in," Apgar said. "We're going for as many people as possible."
Haas said the concert won't only educate the public, it will help Rennel graduate in May. Haas said she and Apgar will graduate after they finish student teaching.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
