Newswise — SEATTLE – Nearly 100 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center employees, family members and friends will join in Seattle’s PrideFest 2014 parade on Sunday, June 29. The team from Fred Hutch will be walking the 1.75-mile route in support of the diversity and ongoing accomplishments of the area’s LGBT community.

Along the way, the Fred Hutch team will distribute condom kits and hand out discount cards for Intiman Theatre’s production of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Angels in America.” As a global leader in the search for a preventative HIV vaccine and home to the world’s largest HIV vaccine research network, Fred Hutch is proud to be the presenting sponsor of Intiman’s summer-long theatre festival, The Angels Project.

Last year, Fred Hutch parade participants were honored to have Timothy Ray Brown, the first person ever cured of HIV, join them as grand marshal of the PrideFest parade. Although Brown will not be able to participate this year his support of the ongoing efforts by Fred Hutch researchers and others to find both a cure and a preventive vaccine to stop HIV remains steadfast.

“I will miss being part of the Pride parade this year, but will be there in spirit with the group from Fred Hutch,” said Brown, whose HIV was cured in Berlin after he received two stem cell transplants from a donor who was immune to HIV. “The Hutch is making groundbreaking progress toward HIV cures for patients worldwide. This is a great day to support the Hutch research and all who play a part in this effort to end HIV.”

Fred Hutch employee groups participating in this year’s PrideFest parade include the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), the Seattle Vaccine Trials Unit (VTU), defeatHIV, Hutch United and the Hutch Diversity Council.

After the parade Fred Hutch participants will join in the PrideFest celebration at Seattle Center, where Fred Hutch researchers and employees from HVTN, VTU and defeatHIV will be at the Fred Hutch booth looking for study volunteers and providing information on the work being done at Fred Hutch to find an HIV/AIDS vaccine.

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At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch’s pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation’s first and largest cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women’s Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Private contributions are essential for enabling Fred Hutch scientists to explore novel research opportunities that lead to important medical breakthroughs. For more information visit www.fredhutch.org or follow Fred Hutch on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.