Jonathan McIntyre has been walking since the very first Walk in 1986, which took place only 4 weeks after his big brother, Jimmy “Mack” McIntyre, lost his battle with AIDS. Over the years, Jon has participated with his mother, with his friends, or even on his own, and has run in the Larry Kessler 5K Run each year since it began in 2001. He has missed only 2 Walks in 23 years.
When Jimmy was first diagnosed with HIV, he began to volunteer as a spokesperson for AIDS Action Committee and became very involved in the cause. So, after his death, the AIDS Walk came at just the right time for Jon and his mother, Paula, to honor Jimmy and deal with their sadness by making a difference.
“If not for the Walk, I wouldn’t have had an outlet for the energy coming from the frustration at not having been able to prevent my brother’s death,” he says. “That frustration could have eaten me up, but the Walk gave me a way to express and channel all that energy toward something positive.”
For Jon, Walk day is a time to honor and remember those we have lost, and to connect with others for a common cause. “[The Walk] creates a feeling of family with all the diverse people around you… On that day, you are united in a single purpose, like a single family.”
What inspires you to Walk?
3 responses so far ↓
1 Paula Martin // May 1, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Jon,
That was inspiring and very well said.
23 years is a real dedication and a devotion of love to your brother, Jimmy.
I hope you are no longer frustrated that you couldn’t save your brother, because, as you know, they just did not have answers back then. And to think, after all this time, the ultimate cure is still evasive. The virus changes, too. At least there is world-wide awareness and fundraising, and you are a very important part of that.
Stay strong, be hopeful, and continue your mission.
Here’s to you, Jon.
2 amanda // May 1, 2008 at 6:49 pm
This year is going to be my first year walking with my two sisters. We lost our mother to AIDS and the youngest sister tested positive for HIV until she developed her own cells. We are walking in honor of my mom’s life. We went through foster care and got adopted at the ages of 10, 6, and 5 we were fortunate to stay together. This disease distroyed our family took our mom and almost my sister we want a cure so other children and families don’t suffer!
3 Jonathan McIntyre // May 4, 2008 at 12:40 am
Amanda, your story is one of the best examples I’ve read of “Why We Walk”. I wish you and your sisters the best. I’m glad you’re joining the walk.
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