D.A.P. continues community healthcare partnership with Desert Regional Medical Center

(PALM SPRINGS, CA – June 19, 2009)

Desert Regional Medical Center will reprise its role as Presenting Sponsor of the 2009 AIDS Walk, benefiting Desert AIDS Project, when it steps off Saturday, October 31 at 9:30 AM from Ruth Hardy Park at the corner of Tamarisk and Caballeros in Palm Springs.

“We’re delighted to be back for our second consecutive year because the Walk is a great, healthy way for people to help raise money – and continued awareness – for such an important cause,” said Cliff Daniels, Associate Administrator at Desert Regional Medical Center. “With potentially huge State Budget cuts to healthcare, it’s more important than ever for people to help us support great organizations like D.A.P.”

As Presenting Sponsor, Desert Regional has given D.A.P. $25,000 in support. “Desert Regional and D.A.P. have long seen themselves as partners in healthcare service to those in the Coachella Valley,” said David Brinkman, Executive Director of Desert AIDS Project. “We are now in our third year of offering our ‘Positive Life’ series in meeting space provided at Desert Regional. The series is designed to bring expert advice to focus on the needs and issues of HIV-positive individuals, many of whom are ‘treatment-experienced long time survivors.’”

After a two-month summer hiatus, the Positive Life series will return to Desert Regional in September. Desert Regional will also once again participate in the 5th Annual Women’s Health Fair on Sept. 12, running lab tests and reading test results free-of-charge for the hundreds of participants expected at the Desert AIDS Project campus.

Desert AIDS Project is the organization in our community where people living with HIV and AIDS can receive comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services. D.A.P. also offers confidential HIV testing at a number of locations and widespread education and prevention services for schools, civic organizations, businesses, churches, and health organizations throughout the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or call 760-323-2118.

Photo caption:     (left to right) Dr. Robert Cunnah, Chief Medical Officer, DRMC; Cliff Daniels, Associate Administrator, DRMC; David Brinkman, Executive Director, D.A.P.; Hank Hudson, Associate Administrator, Human Resources, DRMC; Ken Wheat, Chief Operating Officer, DRMC