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Petra Jones and several of her students were recently recognized as volunteers of the year for the 2004 AIDS Walk Los Angeles.

Petra states that she believes they gave out 4 or 5 volunteer of the year awards, and this was the first year that a school or group of students won. She told me in an email that she and her is “already hard at work, trying to make it a 3-peat” for her and “a back-to-back for the students.” She goes on to say that she takes student volunteers after school 2 or 3 days a week. They get there around 4:00 and stay until about 7:15, doing whatever needs to be done.

Petra has participated in this event since 1993 “or so” both as a walker and a volunteer and she has been a team leader for students and staff members at Gage Middle School for many years. Her involvement in this event is two-fold. It is a commitment on her part to recognize friends and acquaintances affected or victims of the disease and it is a way to educate her students to the “grave concerns” the disease poses for her 8th grade students. She has was awarded “Outstanding Volunteer” her first year and now holds the honor of being the first teacher to lead a school group to the same recognition. She wants anyone wishing to support her team’s (team #29 led by team coordinator is Vanessa) efforts on October 16, 2005 to click on the website www.aidswalk.net, then select Los Angeles and finally selecting a team to join. They’re listed as Gage Middle School Leadership.

Or you can sponsor her by pledging any amount of money to go to the AIDS Walk Los Angeles. You can see her in room 103 if you work at Gage, or you can mail her a check at:
Petra Jones
C/o Gage Middle School
2880 East Gage Avenue
Huntington Park, CA 90255

Her goal is to be a Star Walker again this year. Star Walkers started in 2000. They are people who commit to raise $1000 for the AIDS Walk, and then come through with the pledges and money. She’s working on her 5th year as a Star Walker, but it becomes more difficult to reach the goal each year because there are more walkers on the team and the same people are contributing the money.

BONUS ALERT: If you pledge $50 or more to sponsor her or if you are an adult registered for and walking on the Gage Team, you will receive a certificate for a free half hour massage. Of course, you have to be able to go to the massage place in West LA to use the certificate.