I'm finally crossing something off my (water) bucket list, to raise funds for the amazing Positive East AND complete (and maybe win) a Total Wipe Out Course on 21 June!

I've been involved with HIV charities since the mid-90s and I'm living the dream by being able to now work with one of, if not the best. Positive East supports over 3,000 people per year with both HIV prevention and HIV support services. It's an organisation that is incredibly close to my heart.

With that said - the next 5 years will be a challenge, made even more difficult with divestment of local, national and global HIV funding (here and stateside), and the cruelty shown to our trans community in the callous attempt to erase them. Through this we're seeing a rise in hate, nationalism, extremism and scapegoating – creating additional barriers for Positive East.

However, when we fight, we win and we are now in an era of tangible progress. U=U is fact, long-acting injectables are being rolled out, opt-out testing is expanding and through Positive East's work, PrEP awareness is rising amongst historically underserved communities. Thanks to Positive East, success has been made to ensure HIV progress continues.

We’re not done yet. But we're so painfully close. We have a job to finish, we owe it to those who came before us and to future generations.

That is why, I hope that you will sponsor me so we raise as much ££££ as possible for the incredible work of Positive East.

Thank you.