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Health Issues

AIDS Arms LifeWalk 2007

Frisco Pride is entering a team for the 2007 LifeWalk to raise money for AIDS Arms, Inc. Last year our walkers raised just over $2,500, and this year, we hope to do even better!

AIDS Arms Life Walk is being held on October 14, 2007 at 12 noon.

We need, and welcome, your support. Consider joining the team, and signing up to raise funds for this event (remember to select Team Frisco Pride as part of your sign up). To join the team, just visit our AIDS Arms LifeWalk Team Page and click on the "Get Started" link (on the right). You can check out how our team is doing here.

Sponsors Needed!
We are in need of event sponsors to help us offset the cost of our team t-shirts. If you would like to sponsor our shirt in full, or in part, please contact us here: http://www.friscopride.com/contact/LifeWalk+2007.

New HIV Infections Increase in Collin County

The Dallas Morning News reported today (2/11/2006) that there was an increase in the number of new HIV infections in Collin and Denton counties in 2005. Surprising (to me) about the increase, was the age groups that showed the highest increase: 30-39 and 40-49.

Read the story here.

Patient Advocate Update - January 2006

AIDS - Is still a Life Threatening Disease/Virus even though it is listed now as a treatable Chronic Illness. I personally am concerned that this virus is not being addressed as it should be, giving our youth the impression that it is gone or can be cured with the medicines available these days. Take it from a person who has dealt with this almost half of his 48 years of life, it is not curable, it is treatable, but that is it. The "Cocktails" as they call them consist of a four drug therapy along with the primary Proteus Inhibator, this mass of drugs will buy a person time but the individual will at some point become resistent to them.

I am trying to re-emphasize to all the importance of knowing that AIDS is more active then ever and to be very careful who you associate with, anyone can have this virus wheather they know it or not. My recommendation to everyone that I advocate to in North Texas is to look at everyone as if they are HIV positive, it is protection to yourself and your life. This virus is a very expensive way of living, I want all to understand sadly the people that are living with AIDS now are the ones that can get the right medicines. Please protect yourself and also always educate yourself so you understand what you are up against. I do this because I care and know what this virus can do to a persons true potential. I want to wish all Frisco Pride members a very Happy New Year, if we all work together we can combat this virus, it is up to all of us to win this kind of war.

Always My Best to all,
Glenn Everett Kopanski

Glenn is the the Patient Advocate for AIDS Services of North Texas and can be contacted through

Educating our Youth About HIV/AIDS

Following is an contribution written by Todd Shilling which was recently published in various media around Frisco.

One Man’s Plight With AIDS And His Tiring Goal To Educate

Glenn is a friend of mine and I wanted to publish this letter that his good friend Todd Shilling recently wrote about him…

World AIDS Day 2005


Support World AIDS DayDecember 1st is recognized internationally as World AIDS Day.

The aim of World AIDS Day is to raise awareness in the community about HIV/AIDS issues, including the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the need for the development of education and prevention initiatives.

One of Frisco Pride's members (Glenn Kopanski) is the Patient Advocate for AIDS Services of North Texas, and encourages you to contact him should you have any questions on HIV/AIDS Issues.

Patient Advocate Update - 10/14

As Patient Advocate for AIDS Services for Denton/Collin County, I like to publish information that may be useful to all in this part of the Metroplex. The latest information is that numbers are still rising at alarming rates locally. Even though reports say that new infections are amongst the elderly/adolesences/women, believe me the numbers are rising again in the gay communities. The reason I believe this is happening is because the younger generation that was born in 1980 are not age 25, they are not aware that many of us who had to watch our friends die in the 1980s and 1990s affected us so much that most changed their lifestyles and ways. I tell the people I speak to in my speeches my now being over 22 years with AIDS that the hetrosexual community needs to take heed to what the gay community did in the late 1980s and their numbers will come down, but still I feel that there is a comfort zone in that medicines are cures, they are not, they buy a patient time, thats it. Understand - We are living longer but this virus will kill you. I cannot stress this enough to everyone that this is not the way to live. I have to take 62 pills a day and do daily chemotherapy to guard me against the CMV Virus which just about took my life in 1999 paralysing me for almost three years. Please, from my heart to yours, be careful, protect yourself from a Virus that just does not stop. Right now, our numbers in Denton and Collin counties are up 500% since 2002, be aware that anyone can have AIDS, wheather they know it or not, so just be aware and be careful is my advise.

If anyone in this website has any questions you can reach me at 469-569-1164. I would be most happy to answer questions of give advise.