Currently 100,000 in the UK are living with HIV, a virus which was once considered a death sentence. The global understanding of HIV/AIDS has come a long way since the AIDs crisis during the 1980’s and 90’s. A crisis which arose from the world seeing a new and unknown virus, which had no cure or pre-existing treatment. Fear sparked the social prejudice and discrimination against those who were living with HIV. Unfortunately, knowledge of the virus today is too often based on the AIDs crisis, rather than the reality of living with HIV during the 21^st century.  

Medically, the landscape for HIV treatment has changed
drastically since the 1980’s and 90’s. During this time, people living with HIV were taking almost 30 pills a day to keep their HIV in check. Now, single tablet regimens exist; a small, once-a-day pill which keeps an individual’s viral load at an undetectable level; a level which also considerably reduces the potential transmission from person to person. It is safe to say we have taken a huge step in overcoming the epidemic medically, with around 96% of HIV positive adults in the UK receiving anti-retroviral therapy! Despite this, more work needs to be done socially to target the social stigma surrounding being HIV positive. Extending accurate information and targeting education at niche populations will help work towards eradicating the outdated misconceptions of HIV; and in turn, eliminate the social stigma. Amplifying the voices of those living with HIV in society is just one of the focus areas for Terrence Higgins
Trust and their campaigns.

Luckily enough, for my placement year during my time at University, I secured a placement in one of the worlds very few completely HIV focused pharmaceutical companies – ViiV. Their passion for leaving no
individual with HIV behind was an inspiring and rewarding goal, and I found this was mirrored in that of the goals of Terrence Higgins Trust. Their support programmes for people living with HIV, campaigns for HIV education and sexual health, and their commitment to putting an end to discrimination, I believe, is not only a step, but a giant leap in the right direction for working towards a world free from HIV.

So, help me support this tremendous cause by raising as much
money as possible for Terrence Higgins Trust, and sponsor me in running the London Marathon in April 2019!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!

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Thank you xoxo