SILVERHILL — On Labor Day, approximately 150 AIDS activists from Washington, D.C., Nashville, Miami, Houston, Dallas and Little Rock are expected to attend an AIDS awareness rally at Wales West RV resort in Silverhill after Wales West owner, Ken Zadnicheck, questioned the feasibility of allowing a toddler with the disease to mingle with other children at the park in July, an incident that made national news.

The Campaign to End AIDS, a national network of AIDS activists led by people living with HIV/AIDS, has organized what they are calling a “family reunion” at the popular family resort and park.

A statement posted on the organization’s web site (www.C2EA.org) said, “The Campaign to End AIDS calls on people living with HIV/AIDS, activists, family members and loved ones to join us in a collective, public response to this evil act of hatred and discrimination.“

Zadnicheck said it was never his intention to discriminate against the child.

“We weren’t sure about child-to-child contact,” he said. Zadnicheck also said he never prohibited the child from entering the park swimming pool or the showers, as has been reported. He said he has since learned that his fears were groundless. According to both the Alabama Department of Public Health and the CDC, had the child been in the pool, there would have been no danger posed to other swimmers.

Tammy Ricks, senior environmentalist with the Baldwin County Health Department, said the Alabama Department of Public Health follows the CDC guidelines about HIV/AIDS.

“The CDC says AIDS is not transmitted in a swimming pool or through casual contact. It is transmitted either sexually or by sharing a needle,” she said. Zadnicheck said he was unaware he was discriminating against the child when the incident occurred.

“At the time, I didn’t know that I was discriminating, but I know better now,” he said.

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability and that includes HIV/AIDS. Ricks said even food handlers can’t be denied a job because they have the disease.

Zadnicheck said, “In a way it was a big misunderstanding. He said he hopes hosting the “family reunion” at the park will turn an unfortunate situation into a positive statement of support for people who have HIV/AIDS.

Wales West Light Railroad and RV Park is a popular place for both Baldwin County residents as well as for RV enthusiasts. It is frequently the setting for events sponsored by local church and civic groups.

Located on 18 acres on Baldwin County Road 9, Wales West features an authentic Welsh narrow-gauge (two-foot gauge) railway with steam and diesel engines from Wales and wooden cars that are replicas of the ones used in Wales. There is also a 7 1/2 inch hobby steam railway, which was built by volunteers who are model railroad enthusiasts, as well as several G-gauge trains and tracks running around and throughout the park buildings.

The resort, which opened in 2004, has an indoor pool; a lake with swimming facilities and a beach; playgrounds and picnic areas; as well as 76 RV sites. Zadnicheck said the resort has recieved “five stars from Trailer Life.”

Bob Higgins with the Baldwin County Economic Alliance said, “The Zadnichecks set out to build an attraction where families could come and be comfortable and feel safe. It's a very unique model.

Higgins said he hopes the media attention that has been give to the resort since the July incident will ultimately have a positive effect.

“I hope this Labor Day rally is reported all over the country as a good thing because it raises awareness and Wales West is a great place to have it. It’s a very cool little park,” he said.

Zadnicheck said he too is hopeful the Labor Day event will be successful and well attended.

“We hope that by hosting the ‘family reunion’ we can help educate the public about HIV/AIDS. We invite the community to come out to the Wales West Light Railroad on Labor Day at 11 a.m. to help us show our support for all people who have HIV/AIDS,” he said.

For more information about HIV/AIDS see the Alabama Department of Public Health web site at www.adph.org/aids/assets/HIVAIDSFactSheet.pdf.