MONROE - Jennifer Rikkers read an article in a woman's magazine four years ago that touched her heart. Little did she know at the time that it would change her life.

The article explained the AIDS epidemic in Africa. She discovered that not only was the adult population becoming increasingly infected, but the infection was being transmitted to newborn babies through their mothers.

"I couldn't get it out of my head," Rikkers said.

She has three young sons, ages 1 through 6 years old. She found herself being drawn to Africa.

Most people with HIV/AIDS, including children, live in the sub-Sahara Africa, but they have no access to treatment.

Rikkers noted in the article that the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation was working to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy and prevention and treatment programs throughout the world.

"The article impressed upon me the epidemic going on," Rikkers said. "The foundation saving children made an impact on me."

While living abroad in France, Rikkers began to follow the AIDS Walk Africa, a fundraising effort, through the foundation's Web site. People involved in the AIDS Walks had journals and diaries on line, with pictures of the villages, hospitals and care facilities where the Glaser Foundation was at work.

Rikkers was on the site again this year, reading about the preparations for the walk coming up this summer.

This time, Rikkers decided to do more than follow along on the Internet. She made a commitment to get involved personally, even as she saw her life getting more and more complicated with three growing boys.

The AIDS Walk 2008 is in Swaziland, a country about the same size as N.J.

To walk, participants need to raise a minimum of $15,000 for the foundation and submit a $1,000 non-refundable deposit to secure a space.

In return, Rikkers will get to take in the beauty and culture that is Africa and visit the people that the foundation is working to save. The four-day trek from July 1-5 will cover approximately 12 miles a day through Swaziland, with stops along the way. Rikkers is especially looking forward to visiting the mothers and babies who have been helped.

Rikkers has started in earnest to raise the $15,000 she needs to contribute.

She sent out letters first to family and friends, to her husband's workplace and to companies.

Rikkers is excited at the response she has already received. Papa Murphy's is donating 10 percent of its sales on Wednesdays during January. Perks coffee shop is also donating a portion of their sales one day.

KSwiss, where her father works, is donating products for her to wear, but will also contribute items to her silent auction.

In conjunction with the silent auction, Rikkers is arranging a major fundraising event in the spring with the band Clear Blue Betty. Rikkers is seriously considering offering her own artwork for the auction.

She isn't as confident about her art as she is about her AIDS Walk.

Although the 2008 AIDS Walk is only five days long, Rikkers believes she will be ready to come home, with a larger insight, and hopefully a quieter heart for the people of Africa.

But she will come home a little closer to having a piece of Africa in her life forever. She and her husband will be adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia sometime next year.

"I'm glad we already have the adoption started," she said. "I don't know how I would be able to handle coming home if we didn't."