LOS ANGELES — Wicked Pictures has announced that its "Team Wicked" raised a grand total of $18,000 at the 35th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles, held on October 20.
Led by humanitarian, activist, sex educator and Wicked contract star, Jessica Drake, Team Wicked placed seventh among all teams and raised nearly double last year's $10,000 contribution.
The new tally increases Team Wicked’s fundraising total to $133,000 for the annual AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) event, which this year gathered over 10,000 walkers from a variety of companies and organizations to walk the 10-kilometer course in downtown Los Angeles.
All proceeds from AIDS Walk Los Angeles will go toward APLA’s health services, which include primary medical care, HIV specialty care, HIV prevention and education programs and more.
This year’s Team Wicked included Drake and Brad Armstrong, along with Kylie Ireland, Jessie Lee, Ashley Manta, Hernando Chavez, Jamye Waxman, Sailor Luna, Jessica Johnson, Charlie Padow, Andy Appleton, Rae Threat, Jo, Natassia Dreams, Lotus Lain, Daniel Metcalf, Adella Curry and Long Le, with over 150 individual donations.
Drake expressed her gratitude, thanking supporters and donors who participated in the event.
“I am so proud of Team Wicked," she said. “We really felt a strong push this year, which demonstrated both dedication and determination to raise needed funds for AIDS and HIV medical and other related services. I am thankful to Ken from APLA, who has enabled us to do our very best this year, I’m grateful to Steve and everyone at Wicked Pictures and Wicked Sensual Care for their constant support and encouragement, and I am impressed with the fundraising efforts of Brad Armstrong this year."
"To each and every person that showed up and did the walk and attended my birthday brunch, thank you," she concluded. "Showing up is one of the best things we can do for one another."
Besides serving as team captain, Drake also leads the team in fundraising, ranking among the top ten overall among ten thousand individual walkers. She is followed by Armstrong, who placed in the top twenty walkers.
Armstrong noted, “Doing AIDS Walk LA always gives such a great sense of accomplishment and feeling good about doing something important for the community and helping those in need."
He further praised the organization, championing the AIDS Walk LA in contrast to various other charities that refuse partnerships or contributions from Wicked as the result of stigma.
“Over the years, we at Wicked have tried to team with a number of charities to lend our support," Armstrong explained, "but many of them have unfortunately turned us down (claiming) they can’t be associated with the adult industry."
"AIDS Walk LA has been the total opposite. Their focus is on getting funds to help those in need and building lasting partnerships to make that happen. Over the last seven-plus years, they have embraced Team Wicked and treated us as valued supporters. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Teams and individual walkers may continue to accept donations through November 15; click here to make a donation.
