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News
Isn’t it time you got on board?
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Event raised $13,000 for HIV/AIDS services Continued from page 1
that helps people with HIV/AIDS obtain better food, medicine and transportation to clinics. “We really strongly focus on assisting people who are living with HIV so that they can be independent and stay healthy and stay alive longer.”
will look at it like it’s “a People matter of blame ... People have to know that it’s my friend, my neighbour, my coworker.
”
— John MacTavish, HIV/AIDS Regional Services Kingston executive director
6 scheduled daily flights from/to Toronto & Kingston
Minutes from Queen’s campus
As of 2008, it’s estimated that around 65,000 people in Canada live with HIV/AIDS. The Walk for Life event was held in 47 cities across Canada this year,
ranging from Fredericton to Toronto. According to organizers of the Toronto event, early estimates suggest that at least 1,000 people attend and at least $375,000 was raised. Nearly 30 years after being diagnosed with HIV, MacTavish said he’s lived a lucky life. “I have my friendships, my family and my community,” MacTavish. “I can live very openly as a gay man with HIV and I don’t have to deal with the stigma as much as others have to.” For MacTavish Kingston has always been more responsive to issues related to HIV/ AIDS than in cities like Toronto, and this has helped people living with the disease overcome stigma. “We always have a group of people living with HIV who are able to be vocal and that is what makes it different here,” he said. “People can get to know other people living with the virus and have a connection versus the big, broad city environments.”
kingstonairport.ca
Approximately 150 people attended this year’s AIDS Walk for Life, a decrease of approximately 50 people from last year’s event.
GAELS TAKE ON THE GEE-GEES Sat. Sept. 29 1:00pm
Student tickets at ARC Customer Service Desk with student card
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Photo by Colin Tomchick