My name is David White.  I am an HIV doctor in Birmingham Heartlands hospital. I have been working in this area for 20 years and have seen many wonderful people and friends die of HIV and AIDS.  For my 50th Birthday in February I decided to irritate my children, mother and friends (and lots of my patients) by growing a ridiculous beard.  It has so successfully irritated people that I decided to keep it.  BUT to irritate everyone even more I have now (23rd November) gone POSITIVELY RED and dyed both my beard and head hair bright red.  If I raise enough money, for AIDS Ark I will then shave it all off on World AIDS day (1st December). 

So why am I raising money for AIDS ark. Well it's because people around the world continue to die of HIV and yet it's mostly avoidable.  With current antiviral treatment HIV infected people can live relatively normal lives.  The crucial thing is that they are tested early enough for treatment to work and that they can access treatment.  That is why the theme of this year's world AIDS day is TESTING TESTING TESTING.  But even though we are fortunate in the UK and everyone can access antiviral treatment this is not the same everywhere in the world.  That is why I want to raise money for AIDS ARK.   They have and continue to help in setting up and funding antiviral treatment in new areas of the world where people cannot access treatment.

 

So if you want to make my kids and mother happy and donate to a good cause?  Make me go positively RED (Bald)!

 

I will be putting a photo of the current state of the ridiculous beard as it evolves and the shaven version on the 1st December.

 

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