I was a trustee for CHIVA, and I know first hand through my job that this very small charity has a big impact on the lives of children and young people living with HIV in the UK.  This summer I accompanied some of the teenagers on their coach journey to residential camp.  It was an amazing experience to witness the excitement levels rise as the coach got closer to its destination, and to feel the hugely warm welcome of the CHIVA staff and volunteers (many of whom are themselves living with HIV) when we all arrived.  The focus of camp is on supporting wellbeing, and independent research has demonstrated its positive effect on psychological outcomes.

Last year was the first time I ran this Red Run (and the first year I’d ever run in my life - I didn’t know I had it in me!), and together with friends and colleagues, we raised enough money to fully fund 13 young people to attend camp.  It would be fantastic if we could raise the same now for next summer’s camp.  Many of the children that CHIVA support come from very underprivileged backgrounds, and they are all living with a life-threatening condition; CHIVA does make a real difference.  Please support us!

Finally, these are some words from CHIVA:

CHIVA works to ensure that every child with HIV in the UK has optimum health care and social support to enable them to live well with HIV.  'Freedom to be' is a residential support camp for 100 children and young people living with HIV. It takes place each summer for 5 days. The camp works to support children to better understand their HIV, understand how to live well and through meeting with peers from across the UK, feel less isolated and alone growing up with HIV.

"before I came to this camp I didn't accept myself - but now I do" [young person after attending camp]