POSITIVE EYE - WAD
Brighton - World AIDS Day 2013 round-up additional strains of high medical costs. Without the help of sponsorship many of these children would have no gifts or holidays through the season.’
Volunteers from THT, Rise & Living Library
also on display at the Brighton Dome, with the specific aim of raising funds for ‘Teddy Bear Touch Down’, a fund for two disadvantaged children living with HIV to go on holiday. The Hankie Quilt remains an important project in the community as putting the Quilt on display to the general public raises awareness of HIV/AIDS beyond the reach of some of the other LGBT groups and organisations. It also remembers those we have lost whilst also showing, support and raises the issue of stigma against those who are living with the virus. Maurice, from The Hankie Quilt Project commented: ‘This year we have decided to
Many of Brighton’s gay bars were on hand to raise a smile and funds throughout the day including Santa-Patrol, part of the Bear-Patrol fundraising group who once again had Mr and Mrs Santa (aka Ant Howells and Mysterry) available to have photos taken with the bar punters to help raise funds for local HIV support group, Peer Action. Danny Dwyer from BearPatrol said: ‘As a LGBT community group World AIDS Day enables us to unite with the Community on a Local, National & International level to remember those who have died, and give support for those living with HIV/AIDS.’ Other major events that took place across Brighton on 1st December included HIV awareness group, Avert, who brought Caroline Lucas MP and Brighton and Hove’s International WAD groups together to unveil the worlds largest red ribbon in the centre of Brighton’s park, The Level. to which Avert made the following statement: ‘The purpose of unveiling the world’s largest World AIDS Day awareness ribbon, created by Dr Surya Rao in India, is to raise awareness of HIV across the world and to remind everyone that although we have made huge gains in the combat against HIV and AIDS, there is still many challenges ahead and much more needs to be done. The ribbon also helps remind us all of those we have lost and who continue to live with the condition.’ All of Brighton’s LGBTQ choirs for the
Volunteers from Lunch Positive
first time - Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, Actually Gay women’s chorus, Brighton Belles Gay Women’s Chorus, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, Qukelele, Rainbow Chorus, Resound and Children of the Theatre workshop - came together under one roof to perform and help raise funds for Lunch Positive. The range of events were brought to a close with the annual candlelit vigil organised by Lunch Positive within the grounds of Brighton’s AIDS Memorial, where everyone gathered to hear the reading of names of those who had lost their life to AIDS, and followed by a Service of Remembrance and Solidarity at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.
Sussex Beacon at Brighton Station
support ‘Teddy Bear Touchdowns’ - which are holiday events for children living with HIV/AIDS in cities and areas across 23 countries. The holiday season is a special time for all children, but many of these wonderful kids come from financially challenged families dealing with the POSITIVENATION.co.uk
Volunteers from Lunch Positive
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