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Hello! Thanks for finding your way to my fund raising page. I'm sure you know as I'm all about it at the moment - I’m running the 2012 London Marathon. I'm super excited.... my charity I'm fund raising for is the the <a href="http://www.sussexbeacon.org.uk/">Sussex Beacon</a>, a Brighton based charity that provides vital care for men and women living with HIV.  The idea that I had to run 26 miles seemed like madness when I started training with a 3 month old baby and a terrible 2. But now I'm feeling positive - and STRONG! The hours and sweat I have put in are paying off.  My main focus I'm dedicating my efforts to are the Women and Families living with HIV in Sussex and the support and care provided by the Sussex Beacon.  I have learned, through this journey about the Women and Families services provided by the Sussex Beacon and about the issues women face living with HIV today. With the right treatment and support women are able to work, have children and build meaningful relationships. Around 100 women gain support from using The Women and Families Service at The Sussex Beacon. Services include a monthly women’s group which offers a safe and open environment to share experiences and offer each other support. There is a crèche where women can leave their children so they can REALLY talk. I know I haven’t had an entire conversation without any interruptions since Rufus was born, and find it difficult to think straight with a toddler demanding raisins/car/ dummy/mummy cuddles and I’m sure it’s no different for women who come to the group. These moments to reflect and think are priceless and cherished. Many women living with HIV share similar anxieties, often living double lives, as many women find it very difficult to talk about living with HIV due to the stigma surrounding the virus. Although HIV has been known for more than 30 years now there is still a lot of ignorance about how it is contracted. HIV is growing due to ignorance. In 2012 the NAT reported that an estimated 91,500 people in the ‘UK are living with HIV. The numbers of people carrying it are going up and it remains undiagnosed to 24% of sufferers (22,000 people). Ignorance means people are putting themselves and others at risk. The medication that is available saves lives but people who are living with HIV have to continue taking them for their whole life to stay healthy and they do not come without side effects. On the whole women living with HIV often have very complex issues, that includes living on low incomes, caring roles, emotional and physical health problems and low confidence to name but a few. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. At the monthly meetings, one of the areas the Sussex Beacon helps with is dealing with the challenges of starting a family and pregnancy. THE biggest revelation I had from this conversation is that women living with HIV can conceive naturally and have a healthy baby! If a woman takes her medication regularly and is under good medical care throughout her pregnancy she can give birth naturally, deliver her baby safely with a 99.9% chance of a HIV neg diagnosis for the child... Amazing. Find out more about the tireless work carried out by the Sussex Beacon <a href="http://www.sussexbeacon.org.uk/">here</a>. There needs to be more eduction about HIV - through education is understanding. HIV needs to be discussed and the stigma challenged. It’s not just a virus that affects the gay community but mothers, fathers, daughters, sons…. It is perfectly possible to lead a healthy and fulfilled life where the virus is managed effectively. My pledge is to raise awareness as well as funds for the work of the Sussex Beacon.  Sponsor ME! Every penny you give me will make me run that little bit faster.  Thank you ! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <a href="http://mummyrunning.wordpress.com/">Check out my progress : mummyrunning.wordpress.com</a>

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