The 15th annual AIDSWalk and 5K Run Central Ohio will kick off Sunday.

The walk and run will step off from Bicentennial Park downtown. Opening ceremonies start at 11 a.m. followed by the 5K run at 11:30 a.m. and the 3.5-mile walk at 11:45 a.m.

Participants in the walk and run are required to donate a minimum of $25. There will be prizes given for the top donations and plaques rewarded to the top 5K runners.

The event’s purpose is to raise awareness about AIDS and HIV for central Ohioans and to raise funds and support to nine local nonprofit HIV-AIDS organizations.

These organizations provide services to HIV-AIDS patients such as nutrition care, housing, self-advocacy, mental health counseling and medical care.

AIDS is now the leading cause of death for men ages 25-44 in Columbus, according to www.aidswalkcentralohio.org.

“The main goal of AIDSWalk is education and prevention,” said Bob Barnes, chairman of AIDSWalk Central Ohio. “Fifty percent of new infections are people under the age of 25.”

“We’ve raised more funds to date than ever,” Barnes said. “We are expecting more than 4,000 participants this year.”

There will be a festival in Bicentennial Park after the walk and run including live music, free HIV testing, educational tents and food vendors.

You can make donations and register for the walk and run online at www.aidswalkcentralhio.org. Registration can be done the day of the event at Bicentennial Park at 9 a.m.

All proceeds of the AIDS Walk and 5K Run go to nine local HIV-AIDS agencies.

“AIDSWalk benefits our agency in two major ways – by the financial support it generates for our administrative costs, but it also puts HIV-AIDS in the spotlight in a way that supports education and awareness,” said Aaron Riley, interim executive director of Columbus AIDS Task Force, one of the nine agencies benefited by AIDSWalk Central Ohio.

“Also, it sometimes helps people to think about their status, like, ‘Gee, should I go get checked out?’ ” Riley said.

AIDS Walk Central Ohio is held annually on the first Sunday in May to kick off AIDS Awareness Week.