SUE

Diagnosed with HIV in 2006 my journey started 

Not knowing too much about HIV at the time I wanted to understand what this virus was and what my life expectancy would be. After self-educating myself I realized HIV was a liveable condition.

I closed the door on a 25 year career in retail management and started to volunteer for the Terrence Higgins Trust. 

For the last 10 years I have been volunteering and working on the Positive Voices Project. We go into education, workplace and the health care to create awareness and understanding about HIV by talking about our lived experiences.

Working with the Terrence Higgins Trust press team I am able to do lots of media pieces in newspapers. I have also told my story in women’s magazines such as Best, and Take a Break.

I am proud to be part of the only Radio show dedicated to HIV in the UK The HIV Hour on Radio Reverb based in Brighton. Giving a voice to others living wit, HIV where many have not even disclosed their own status. 

Because my own experiences of HIV related stigma I want to make sure future generations don’t go through this. As a mother myself, I know only too well the self-stigma and shame my daughter went through at school

I have dedicated my live to breaking down stigma and discrimination in all communities. Trying to change hearts and minds when it comes to HIV because at the end of the day HIV can happen to anyone.