Each year, my fundraising efforts are dedicated to my late partner, Sergio Anguiano, who died from AIDS in 1993 just before his 22nd birthday. Both of us were undergraduate students at UC Berkeley, and despite his never ending illnesses and frequent hospital stays, Sergio managed to graduate with top honors two weeks before his death — a small ceremony in his hospital room with his professors, friends, and family. To this day, he is the most courageous person I've ever known.

And I'll always wonder — perhaps if the hate and discrimination faced by Sergio and so many others dying from AIDS hadn't resulted in indifference, neglect, and inaction by our government for the first several years into the epidemic, he might have been saved by the life-saving treatments that became available three years after his death.

I participate in AIDS Walk San Francisco every year as a member of the National AIDS Memorial's team. For the past several years, we have been the top fundraising team. The money we raise supports the mission, vision, and programs of the National AIDS Memorial.

Through its iconic AIDS memorial's and programs, the National AIDS Memorial is committed to ensuring that the story of AIDS is known by future generations — so that we remember, in perpetuity, the lives lost, we offer healing and hope to survivors, and we inspire new generations of activists in the fight against stigma, denial, and hate, for a just future. Our vision is that never again will a community be harmed because of fear, silence, discrimination or stigma.

After losing Sergio, a gay Hispanic young man, to AIDS with full awareness of society's hate and indifference — fighting against that cruelty is what I am most passionate about today — nothing is more important to me.

I thank you, sincerely, for your time, and hope you will consider helping me reach my fundraising goal of $7,500 if you are able.

With gratitude,

Steve Sagaser
Senior Manager, Programs
National AIDS Memorial