The annual ‘Red Run for World AIDS Day’ took place on Sunday at Victoria Park in East London. The event, organised by local HIV charity, Positive East, attracted over 300 runners who competed in either a 5K or 10K race. Runners raised money to support services for people with HIV across the capital whilst the costs to stage the race were met by the Interbank LGBT Forum.
“The Red Run is our flagship fundraising event which raises much needed funds to support the many thousands of people with HIV in London’, said Mark Santos, the Charity’s Director. ‘It is always great to see other HIV charities taking part as well as we made a deliberate decision to make the event really inclusive. Many of the people we help also get support from different organisations so we really are working together’
Public Health England report that now there are over 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK and nearly half of them live in London. The Red Run for World AIDS Day saw participants running for the National AIDS Trust, Food Chain, WLGMP and GMFA charities as well as Positive East.
‘We haven’t got the final calculation in yet but we expect the race to raise around £20,000. Because there are more people infected than ever before, demand for services has never been greater, added Mark Santos. ‘So a big thank you to all those who ran and all those who showed up to cheer them on. There was a great atmosphere in the park and fortunately, the weather was mainly forgiving!
Positive East has been supporting people living with and affected by HIV for nearly 25 years and are the largest HIV charity in London. Every year they help over 35,000 people face to face and a further 40,000 on their website, www.positiveeast.org.uk