Life changing India trip prompts HIV/AIDS awareness campaign

[Guest guest]

Life changing India trip prompts HIV/AIDS awareness campaign

Published Date: 11 March 2010

By Alison Sandilands

Thursday, 8.35am - COMING face-to-face with the plight of children and families

with HIV and AIDS in India has prompted a Horncastle man to raise awareness of

this issue and encourage fundraising.

Hall, 27, of Queen Street, works as a sexual health nurse at Lincoln

County Hospital.

He recently travelled to Bangalore with a small group of people from Care Home

India - a charity providing medication, education and counselling for

individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

He got involved with this charity around a year ago through his college

lecturer, Maureen Bray, from Boston, who has helped raise in excess of £27,000

over the past decade.

One of the main reasons for the trip to India was to see first-hand where this

money was going.

" It was very emotional, " said Chris. " We spent three weeks travelling long

distances across Bangalore and Kerrala regions, witnessing first hand the

fantastic work of Care Home counsellors.

The group visited homes of families suffering from these diseases and also

orphanages, including the Infant Jesus where there were 90 children.

" The expected life span for some of these beautiful babies and children is 15

years, " he explained.

" The visits to homes were all very humbling experiences and emotional ones. Each

family had its own unique story of how it has been so harshly affected by

HIV/AIDS, but the common factor in all cases was that this charity had supported

families to help them continue as best as possible, to regain health and

function as a family once more.

" There was case of the father of a young family who had contemplated killing his

wife and children because he had passed on HIV to them and couldn't live with

the guilt.

" 10 years on and unfortunately the young man and his seven-year-old son have

died from this unforgiving disease, but his wife and 15-year-old daughter are in

perfect health and enjoying life with the ongoing support of the charity. "

said the group were treated like royalty when they visited families in

their homes, no matter how little the family owned.

" The warmth and kindness they showed was immense, " he said.

" Overall it was a life changing journey, seeing the suffering across so many

people regardless of age, religion or class. "

is hoping to get in touch with local groups in the Horncastle area to give

talks about the charity, and his trip, at their meetings.

You could also help by attending a fundraising painting day at Boston Tennis

Club on April 8. Tickets cost £20.

* For further information contact

on 07920 143539 07920 143539 or

Maureen on 01205 351449 01205 351449.

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