COEUR d'ALENE - Smiling and cheerful, Lee Ash and Monique Martinez were enjoying themselves on Saturday morning, walking around the Lake City High School track, visiting with old friends.

The two locals are clients at the North Idaho AIDS Coalition, and they are living proof that HIV/AIDS is not the end of the road - not by a long shot.

"It's not the monster that people thought it used to be," said Ash, 40, a Hayden resident.

He was diagnosed with HIV in 2005. The 50-year-old Martinez, who lives in Coeur d'Alene, was diagnosed in 1989 and contracted AIDS three years ago.

They joined about 60 participants at the first AIDS Walk fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting the AIDS Coalition.

"I think this is awesome," said Ash, who joined his wife, Carli, on the track. "Just to see the community support, see all the people down here."

Based in Coeur d'Alene, NIAC serves the Panhandle's five northern counties. The nonprofit cares for about 50 clients, and also provides HIV testing, risk assessment and community education.

The three-hour AIDS Walk was one of the organization's major events. Participants paid a slight fee and received a T-shirt.

With every lap completed, each walker received a raffle ticket. The grand prize was two tickets to Silverwood Theme Park.

"We had a good amount of people come out," said Staci Lechot, NIAC executive director. "It's been awesome. We're definitely going to do this next year."

HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in Idaho, Lechot said. About 1,200 people are living with the disease statewide. In North Idaho alone, 172 people have HIV/AIDS.

Among the newly-diagnosed, 37 percent are heterosexuals, and many are women.

"We're a low-prevalence state, but it is on the rise," Lechot said. "There's no cure, but with the medicine and medical care we have, it's possible to stay healthy."

Awareness is very important, she said. When dealing with HIV, an early diagnosis is the first step toward a long life. NIAC can administer a finger-prick test in just 15 minutes.

Funds from Saturday's walk will help pay for eyeglasses for NIAC clients, Lechot said.

Ash and Martinez have seen the coalition grow over the years, they said. The programs and support have been extremely valuable.

Both clients agreed that interacting with other people who have HIV - people they've met through NIAC - helps them cope with the disease and its everyday challenges.

"Everybody has different issues on it. It's great," Martinez said.

The nonprofit and its clients have come a long way, they added. Ash predicted a busier AIDS Walk in the future.

"I'd say if this is going to be an annual thing, they'll probably get a lot more people," he said.

One quarter-mile at a time, the Mellick family of Post Falls wheeled around the Lake City track. Aimee Mellick will be starting an internship at NIAC on Aug. 27.

"I just fell in love with what NIAC does, and is doing," she said.

Aimee journeyed alongside her husband, Dan, and daughter, Zoie. She walked to support the coalition, but also to remember a friend who died of AIDS about 10 years ago.

"I think it's great. It was a better turnout than I thought it would be," she said.