Rocchi Acierno
Red Run
Fundraising for Positive East
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I’m running the 10km Red Run in Victoria Park to support Prepster (via Positive East - thank you!).
There is no known cure for HIV. PrEP is a life-changing drug - whether gay, straight, bisexual, trans, etc. (my point is that it is available for anyone) - which is proven to prevent the transmission of HIV between sexual partners.
Prepster aims to educate about this drug, advocate and pressure for the NHS to fund and refer those most at-risk to receive it.
Unfortunately, NHS England has stalled on funding this life-saving drug. It’s currently the only known drug to prevent HIV transmission. Instead they have launched an Impact Trial. Whilst a supporter of the trial, it’s my view that the NHS is denying ‘free’ access to this drug due to a misunderstanding of its purpose. The fact remains that since the trial was introduced, HIV transmission rates in London has fallen. To deny this success is partly down to the drug is unacceptable. Prepster supports action against this stance.
Currently you have to be ‘lucky’ to be part of the trial. Until very recently, those from lower incomes or no incomes could only buy it online at about £60 for 3 months supply. Prepster recently helped to introduce PrEP for lower or no income backgrounds.
There is also stigma around this drug. The media have portrayed it as the ‘promiscuity drug’, implying that those who have ‘riskier’ sex should know what they getting themselves into instead of the NHS funding it. This is also unacceptable. HIV transmission is not linked to lifestyle. It could affect anyone. If you are diagnosed with HIV you could be receiving HIV meds from the NHS for the rest of your life. Arguably, if this drug helps to eradicate HIV, they should be funding it for anyone who wants it. A lifetime on PrEP would cost significantly less than a lifetime of HIV meds and on-treatment.
I would expect this from the UK press but to seemingly have this kind of attitude from respected medical professionals just shows how much the NHS is descending into a more privatised system and should be condemned. Prepster will continue pushing the right message rather than the shameful actions of our media and healthcare professional bodies.
I am not ashamed or afraid to say that I take this drug. It should be funded and provided. It has been researched, it works, there have been numerous trials. It is breakthrough. The technology behind it belongs to the people, not the healthcare system, not the opinion of the press and certainly not the drug 'companies'.
https://prepster.info
Thank you for your support!
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
I’m running the 10km Red Run in Victoria Park to support Prepster (via Positive East - thank you!).
There is no known cure for HIV. PrEP is a life-changing drug - whether gay, straight, bisexual, trans, etc. (my point is that it is available for anyone) - which is proven to prevent the transmission of HIV between sexual partners.
Prepster aims to educate about this drug, advocate and pressure for the NHS to fund and refer those most at-risk to receive it.
Unfortunately, NHS England has stalled on funding this life-saving drug. It’s currently the only known drug to prevent HIV transmission. Instead they have launched an Impact Trial. Whilst a supporter of the trial, it’s my view that the NHS is denying ‘free’ access to this drug due to a misunderstanding of its purpose. The fact remains that since the trial was introduced, HIV transmission rates in London has fallen. To deny this success is partly down to the drug is unacceptable. Prepster supports action against this stance.
Currently you have to be ‘lucky’ to be part of the trial. Until very recently, those from lower incomes or no incomes could only buy it online at about £60 for 3 months supply. Prepster recently helped to introduce PrEP for lower or no income backgrounds.
There is also stigma around this drug. The media have portrayed it as the ‘promiscuity drug’, implying that those who have ‘riskier’ sex should know what they getting themselves into instead of the NHS funding it. This is also unacceptable. HIV transmission is not linked to lifestyle. It could affect anyone. If you are diagnosed with HIV you could be receiving HIV meds from the NHS for the rest of your life. Arguably, if this drug helps to eradicate HIV, they should be funding it for anyone who wants it. A lifetime on PrEP would cost significantly less than a lifetime of HIV meds and on-treatment.
I would expect this from the UK press but to seemingly have this kind of attitude from respected medical professionals just shows how much the NHS is descending into a more privatised system and should be condemned. Prepster will continue pushing the right message rather than the shameful actions of our media and healthcare professional bodies.
I am not ashamed or afraid to say that I take this drug. It should be funded and provided. It has been researched, it works, there have been numerous trials. It is breakthrough. The technology behind it belongs to the people, not the healthcare system, not the opinion of the press and certainly not the drug 'companies'.
https://prepster.info
Thank you for your support!
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.