Students in Yonkers joined in a march to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS Friday.

World AIDS Day is Dec. 1, but the Yonkers HIV/AIDS Providers Task Force led students from Yonkers High School on a march to mourn lost loved ones and fight the spread of the disease. The names of those who lost their battle with AIDS were proclaimed loudly on the streets.

Nationally, HIV cases among teens are on the rise. However, organizers say two areas in Yonkers that were known for the highest per capita HIV cases in New York have turned those statistics around. Many attribute that to a message of prevention.

The march ended with a vigil of remembrance and hope.