END HIV stigma - Ruan Uys Kokoda
Don protégé
The mission:
This June I am joining Aussie Olympian, Ji Wallace on an inspirational trek to do the Kokoda trail.
Themed ‘Stronger Than You Think’, this trek aims to break down the stigma around living with HIV. To show the world that the face of HIV has changed (it is now a managable disease), HIV treatments have changed (modern Antiretrovirals =1 pill a day, which makes it easier to manage than being a diabetic), PLHIV who are on treatment and have an undectable viral load CANNOT pass it on, and the impact of HIV on a person's quality of life has changed...
- SO perceptions of and the treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV) ... NEEDS TO CHANGE..! -
We know today that a PLHIV, on treatment with a supressed viral load = uninfectious. We are truly fortunate in Australia to have the resources to END the spread of HIV TODAY! But why haven't we? What's stopping us?
The answer is simply one word: ...STIGMA...
Stigma stops people from getting tested, from starting treatment and it pushes people away from social connections where they end up ceasing to self care and some even ceasing treatment.
Who wil benefit:
Please help me reach my target and enable me to go and personally prove through the successful completion of the Kokoda trail that PLHIV can achieve anything they put thier minds to. And in turn, help end stigma, improve the lived experience of PLHIV everywhere and ultimately END HIV.
Whats needed:
To join this inspirational expedition I need to raise my own funds ($4500) to prove my commitment and in the process help create awareness through the many fundraising initiatives I undertake. These funds will cover everything from flights & accommodation to the equipment (boots, backpacks etc) needed to successfully complete a trail of this level & scale.
My promise:
I will train long and hard to ensure I am fit and able to complete the 100km+ (killer) trail. I will also create a personal Kokoda+ blog in which I will send live updates and photo's, as it happens on the Kokoda trail... To everyone who donated...
If you can't donate, no wakkas! A shared link counts as cash in my books :)
Past projects and involvement:
https://www.hivsters.info/the-hivsters-camino/
http://goodqualityoflife.com.au/Moment/ruan/
https://www.mylifeplus.com.au/ruan
For more infomation about the Kokokda plus trek please click this link
http://hivfoundation.org.au/news/blog/breaking-stigma-around-living-hiv-kokoda-stronger-you-think
Sincere thanks
Ruan
This June I am joining Aussie Olympian, Ji Wallace on an inspirational trek to do the Kokoda trail.
Themed ‘Stronger Than You Think’, this trek aims to break down the stigma around living with HIV. To show the world that the face of HIV has changed (it is now a managable disease), HIV treatments have changed (modern Antiretrovirals =1 pill a day, which makes it easier to manage than being a diabetic), PLHIV who are on treatment and have an undectable viral load CANNOT pass it on, and the impact of HIV on a person's quality of life has changed...
- SO perceptions of and the treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV) ... NEEDS TO CHANGE..! -
We know today that a PLHIV, on treatment with a supressed viral load = uninfectious. We are truly fortunate in Australia to have the resources to END the spread of HIV TODAY! But why haven't we? What's stopping us?
The answer is simply one word: ...STIGMA...
Stigma stops people from getting tested, from starting treatment and it pushes people away from social connections where they end up ceasing to self care and some even ceasing treatment.
Who wil benefit:
Please help me reach my target and enable me to go and personally prove through the successful completion of the Kokoda trail that PLHIV can achieve anything they put thier minds to. And in turn, help end stigma, improve the lived experience of PLHIV everywhere and ultimately END HIV.
Whats needed:
To join this inspirational expedition I need to raise my own funds ($4500) to prove my commitment and in the process help create awareness through the many fundraising initiatives I undertake. These funds will cover everything from flights & accommodation to the equipment (boots, backpacks etc) needed to successfully complete a trail of this level & scale.
My promise:
I will train long and hard to ensure I am fit and able to complete the 100km+ (killer) trail. I will also create a personal Kokoda+ blog in which I will send live updates and photo's, as it happens on the Kokoda trail... To everyone who donated...
If you can't donate, no wakkas! A shared link counts as cash in my books :)
Past projects and involvement:
https://www.hivsters.info/the-hivsters-camino/
http://goodqualityoflife.com.au/Moment/ruan/
https://www.mylifeplus.com.au/ruan
For more infomation about the Kokokda plus trek please click this link
http://hivfoundation.org.au/news/blog/breaking-stigma-around-living-hiv-kokoda-stronger-you-think
Sincere thanks
Ruan
Organisateur
Ruan Uys
Organisateur
Te Puke, NZ