I took part in my first World AIDS Day Red Run, to raise money for The Food Chain, by running 10K around Victoria Park, London.

And this Christmas I will continue to support the Food Chain, as a volunteer.

I will be driving across London to collect people who are living with HIV and would otherwise be spending Christmas Day alone, and bringing them to the Food Chain where they will be given Christmas Dinner and a gift.

£5 will help pay for one meal, and £50 will help pay for a hire car for the day, so please give what you can.

The Food Chain, is an incredible charity that supported me for the past three months during a crisis that I suffered in relation to being stalked and outed as HIV+ online.

Based at Positive East in Stepney Green, The Food Chain provide a safe space to welcome people living and struggling with HIV.

I am raising money to help The Food Chain to keep their services going - delivering groceries, serving hot meals and providing specialist advice and guidance. 

The Food Chain is critically under funded, and fundraising is vital to help. With winter and Christmas approaching, the needs of the HIV community increase.

Any donations you can offer, no matter the amount, would be hugely valued. Just £10 pays for two tailored meals at our Eating Together service. £50 buys one grocery delivery for someone who is unable to shop or can’t afford to eat the appropriate food necessary to live well. And £100 buys enough formula milk for a parent living with HIV to feed their baby for 2 months. 

For three months, I attended The Food Chain’s Eating Together lunches on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I was given a freshly cooked nutritious meal, and welcomed to join and meet other people living with HIV.

The experience was eye opening. I have gained a much greater insight into the struggles that other people living with HIV face, and I really want to do more to help.

Please give whatever you can, your donations really do make a difference.