Barry Coulter
The annual ANKORS Aids Awareness event is set for this Saturday, Sept. 12, in Rotary Park. This year, the event has a couple of new angles.
ANKORS (Aids Network Kootenay Outreach and Support Society) is hosting "The Amazing Race," this year, instead of the walk around the downtown core. Gary Dalton, who heads up the Community Care Team at ANKORS in Cranbrook, said teams of volunteers will be on hand to assist those who wish to participate.
Also featured this year is a new ANKORS mascot — Anony-Mouse — who reflects the situation of many people afflicted with HIV.
"A lot of people with HIV are anonymous because they haven't been tested," Dalton said. "We want people to understand that people who are on (HIV) medication are an extremely low risk for transmission."
ANKORS will conduct free testing during the event.
A pancake breakfast starts off the day at 11 a.m., and the event runs until 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, in Rotary Park in Cranbrook.