Hundreds of people, including 15 to 20 students from SCC, participated recently in the Oct. 23 AIDS Walk in Phoenix. It was not just a walk, but a gathering of people who support HIV victims and HIV fighters, letting victims that they are not alone and to make them realize that the participants are all with them. Several participants shared their stories with Northeast Valley News.

Kelly Welch, a transgender HIV fighter, talked about how HIV-related stigma and discrimination still persist and affect the health and well being of people living with HIV.
“I woke up one day and I could barely get out of bed and I was also yellow of hepatitis C,” Welch said. “I am recovering addict, so I probably got it by sharing a needle. I don’t tell everybody that I am an HIV patient because people think it is bad.”

AIDS fighter Shelly Byers is living day-to-day with the help of her medication.
“I am on medication and that’s only medications that keeping me alive every single day,” Byers said. “Medical treatment for AIDS is very expensive here but I am an engineer so I have a good medical plan, but without events like this people who don’t have insurance will die.”

Linda Castillo was a supporter participating in the walk.
“I am supporting the HIV fighters because I work in one of the labs that does tests for AIDS, so it’s something we do every day, it affects all of us,” Castillo said.

She added that some people don’t look with good eyes toward HIV victims because there is a stigma attached to it.

“People are like worried if something happens to them because it is contagious,” Castillo said. “They avoid to be around the people who are suffering with AIDS. People should show their support and love to AIDS victims.”

Delores Young is another HIV fighter. She was asked what she would say to those who may be propagating an HIV/AIDS stigma.

“We should educate the other person about AIDS,” Young said. “Tell somebody else that don’t know because the stigma about the HIV & AIDS is still out here, people are very ignorant when it comes to this disease. They don’t want to know the knowledge because they are still afraid, but if I can get somebody to sit down for 15 minutes, I can educate them and let them know that you can’t get it by hugging me, so that’s my message to the people.”

The overriding message from the AIDS Walk was those who are infected with HIV need care, respect and support from their friends, families and the community, especially when they are ill. It is possible for people who are infected with HIV to live long and healthy lives. Those who are infected with HIV can be helped with encouragement, love, openness and support.