On the 1 July 2008, Richard Westoby and Steven Edwards hosted another stunning drinks party in London which raised over £2,000 for Positive Heroes.

Positive Heroes remains hugely grateful to Richard and Steven for both their tremendous generosity and enthusiasm, and that of their guests. The interest and support of people from overseas is a wonderful testament of belief in those living positively with HIV in South Africa.

On the 19 June 2008, Positive Heroes launched this website at The Loft in Cape Town. This is a copy of the powerful speech that Faghmeda Miller gave:

“If you can survive the first few minutes of sheer shock of realization of your HIV status, you are already a HERO!!!
Overcoming the first part was for most of us the toughest journey, slowloy you realised that HIV is not a death sentence, instead it is an excuse to live life to the fullest, making use of every moment of your life, doing what others always put off, saying “I’ll do “it” next week/year etc”
Life does not end when diagnosed with HIV, indeed there is life, there is hope!!!
The best way to overcome and survive our “friend” HIV, is to educate oneself about it, how to manage it, and how to live positively and healthily with it.
Also, giuve the virus it’s own place in your life, and do not let your life revolve around it!!!!!!!
Today we stand before you as Heroes, but in my heart, the true Heroes are the one’s who cannot speak out, who cannot be open, brave and strong to do what we do, therefore I hope this website would help and encourage them to come and stand next to us, breaking the silence around HIV forever!!!
And to say proudly, WE ARE ALL “POSITIVE HEROES”
Thank you“

Speech by Faghmeda Miller

On the 15 January 2008, Richard Westoby and Steven Edwards generously hosted a drinks party in London which raised over £2,400 for Positive Heroes.

As well as an opportunity to raise funds the evening was a great opportunity to convey Positive Heroes’ message of hope against the backdrop of stigma and it’s tragic consequences in South Africa.

http://positiveheroes.org.za/wp-content/videos/video.flv

This video was created from an event held on 2 September 2007 The children of Imizamo Yethu (or Mandela Park) in Hout Bay welcomed their community Hero, Evelina Tshabalala back after climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia as part of Isicongo’s venture to summit the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Evelina has previously summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.

The event was done with true and a warm-hearted African spirit and included HIV education for the children and a fun day on the beach with hot dogs, fruit and juice.

Event’s where people living with HIV interact with local communities and show their potential are crucial in changing the way that HIV is viewed and managed.