Gareth Thomas’ ‘Tackle HIV’ bus tour arrives at Cardiff University

Retired Welsh rugby union player Gareth Thomas arrived in Cardiff on the latest stop of his Tackle HIV campaign to challenge public misconceptions about the virus.

Gareth made headlines in 2019 after publicly announcing he was HIV positive in an interview for BBC News, with him saying he “want(s) to remember what it’s like to live again”.

The ex-rugby player and his bus were welcomed at Cardiff University’s Freshers’ Fair in his home country.

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The campaign, funded by ViiV Healthcare, aims to raise awareness of sexual health and promote testing among young adults, inspired by his own experience with the virus. Thomas uses his own experience of living with HIV to educate and inspire students on his three-stop tour of universities in the UK.

With the highest levels of STIs being found in those aged 15-24, universities have been highly receptive to the campaign, and so have their students.

Tackle HIV was a popular stop at the Fresher’s Fair, with Cardiff’s Medics Rugby Team showing particular interest in the cause.

Speaking with the Glasgow Times, Gareth said: “They wanted to be a part of it because they realised the stigma is still there, but slowly and very surely, we are managing to chip away at that stigma.”

Cardiff University recently launched its new Shag Safe movement with similar aims, educating students on sexual health and providing contraceptives.

Whilst in Wales, Gareth and his team decided to partake in the Pen Y Fan challenge, which entails climbing South Wales’ highest peak 10 times.

Battling the fierce Welsh weather, they completed the challenge in just over 17 hours.

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Hoping to alter public perception, Gareth said: “If you can go up and down Pen y Fan 10 times, then there’s no greater message and there’s no greater example of somebody physically being able to not be restricted by a virus, so why should that stigma and disinformation still exist?”.

It is estimated that over 95,000 people are living with HIV in the UK, nearly 5000 of those unknowingly.

These statistics emphasise the significance of campaigns such as Gareth’s, especially among younger people.

Speaking with the News and Star, Gareth said that he feels proud to have “created an environment where people are intrigued, where people feel like they can come and learn safely.”

Gareth continues to fight for a safe and open environment without discrimination and misinformation, inviting people to be curious and supportive of those affected.

For more information on the Tackle HIV bus tour or advice visit @tacklehiv or tacklehiv.org

Feature image credit via Instagram

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