Plushealth have been proud to be part of the World AIDS Day RedRun event since 2020!

RedRun isn’t a race – it’s a movement. This inclusive event welcomes all ages and abilities, fostering a spirit of community over competition. It’s your chance to join thousands and make a real difference to support the lives of people living with HIV.

Wind through the scenic paths of Victoria Park alongside walkers, runners, and sashayers! As a combined 5k and 10k (chipped timed) route, the RED RUN offers a rewarding day for everyone.

Last year, over 3,000 people participated, raising a staggering £232,000 for 30 HIV charities! Join us this year and help strengthen the UK’s response to HIV.

Like all small charities Plushealth are very reliant on the generosity of our event participants and those who have kindly donated to past RedRun events. The HIV charity sector is facing extreme funding pressures with many important support organisations either closing or having to really cut back on the services they offer.

This year we have set a target of raising £3,000 to help us cover the cost of completely redeveloping our website which forms the platform upon which we deliver our core HIV peer support service. The total cost of the website redevelopment is estimated at £10,000 and if we reach our target we will be able to start work early in 2025 to deliver this important part of our charity strategy.

Having the opportunity to speak to someone else living with HIV is a powerful way to support people who either receive a new HIV diagnosis, or those who struggle to manage their engagement with care and take their daily treatment.

Our online peer support service delivered via popular video, voice and text apps provides a lifeline for people living with or affected by HIV who live in rural areas or where there are challenges engaging with in-clinic peer support services where they exist.

Plushealth was set up by Chris Williams in the early part of 2018 to address an unmet need to support people living with HIV or affected by HIV regardless of where they lived in the UK. The solution was to work entirely online, an area Chris had several years of previous experience to draw upon.

In January 2020 Plushealth were given the opportunity to work in partnership with 2 other charities as part of the programme for London. Little did we know as we started work on the charity commission registration that the coronavirus pandemic was around the corner.

Despite many challenges, Plushealth became a registered charity in England & Wales in September 2020. As an online charity we were very well placed to provide much needed support and information for people living with HIV, with much of our time spent updating our website with vital information in a fast moving situation.

Plushealth aims to inform, empower, support and improve the lives of people living with HIV, their HIV negative partners, family members, close friends and carers.

Whilst there have been significant improvements in the way people living with HIV can remain fit and well, challenges exist for a significant number of people. Societal and perception of stigma remains the biggest difficulty many people living with HIV face every day. Peer support is an essential part of modern HIV care which can help people regain their confidence, understand HIV as a manageable health condition, and importantly support emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Thank you for reading and for your support - we very much appreciate it!