July 2022 marks 40 years since Terrence Higgins became the UK’s first named person to die of an AIDS-related illness. Although there have been significant treatment advancements for HIV over the years and evidence that attitudes have evolved since the 1980s, stigma, health inequalities, and discrimination are still prevalent in modern society.  

In 2020, the Scottish Government announced that Scotland is taking steps to become one of the first countries to eliminate HIV transmissions by 2030. However, the most significant barrier to achieving this in Scotland is the stigma surrounding HIV.  

Waverley Care is a charity that supports those affected by and living with HIV. It has been instrumental in helping to challenge HIV stigma and myths by raising awareness of the actual realities of HIV. Waverley Care also focuses on:  

• educating local communities on HIV;  
• encouraging people to get tested to reduce new infections; 
• promoting good sexual health; and,  
• tackling health inequalities.  

That is why we are proud to have partnered with Waverley Care for over three years and have set ourselves our biggest challenge yet – a 176-mile coastal cycle from Newcastle to Edinburgh.

This cycle will take place on Monday, 26 September, over four days and three Criterion staff (Billy Burnside, Lisa Lamont and Matthew Dransfield) will embark on this epic challenge. We will be providing live updates on Twitter with their progress along the way.  

To learn more about Waverley Care and its fantastic work, please visit its website: www.waverleycare.org.   

All donations are gratefully received and thank you for being so supportive in advance.