Hear what our members have to say
HEAR ABOUT HIVITALITY RETREATS FROM OUR MEMBERS
HiVitality have been running retreats for our members since the 1990s.
Many of those members have been to many retreats over the years finding support, friendship and alliesfor their life with HIV.
There is no better recommendation for the benefits our retreats can bring than the words of those members.
Maurice Greenham
When I was diagnosed in 1984 the name of the mysterious disease that was killing mainly gay men in the UK had yet to be agreed upon; there was no treatment, and the only support group was the Terrence Higgins Trust in London. I lived in Stoke on Trent. I was one of the fortunate few who remained asymptomatic for almost 10 years…but in 1994 my luck ran out. I was hospitalized, diagnosed with AIDS and given 6 months to live.
By that time, there were numerous HIV support groups in Great Britain including the National Long Term Survivors Group (NLTSG). Although I wasn’t a founder member, I have been associated with the group since its early days in Cheltenham and saw its main base move northwards to rural Staffordshire, close to where I live.
NLTSG proved to be a lifeline…giving me hope and inspiration from the peer support of other long-term survivors like me. I became a trustee and was the group’s secretary for several years. I was present at the group’s 20th, 25th and 30th anniversaries. It made perfect sense for a name change, given the incredible shift from HIV being a life-threatening disease to becoming a manageable health condition.
HiVitality welcomes anyone diagnosed with HIV …be they recently diagnosed or an old HIV dinosaur like me.
I am now in my 80s and proud of being an octogenarian – not everyone gets to have that privilege. Instead of dragging me down, HIV has spurred me on to fulfil many of my lifelong ambitions. With the peer support of HiVitality members…I hope to achieve even more.
Anita Binns
I attended a Hivitality residential workshop after a particularly bad time in my work place.
Having been living with HIV since 1988 I just didn't expect such an awful experience in 2020.
I was told about Hivitality and that it could really help . I was Literally blown away by the immense feeling of warmth, understanding and workshops that really helped me .
By the second day I really was unburdened and able to release my hurt and begin to heal .
It is a family and one that will always be there in times of need.
Kevin Kelland
Life comes full circle! Attending a Hivitality retreat in Perth, and meeting up with Father Ronnie McAinsh after 34 years was amazing!
Re-living our memories of when we both started Buddying in late 80s in Plymouth! I'd had my faith shattered being gay and having HIV! Father Ronnie helped me regain my stability, my faith, and accept my life.
He didn't judge, he fully accepted me as a human being I felt at peace and loved again by God! Ronnie encouraged me to use HIV as gift to help others!
I so enjoyed the retreat; it gave me time and space to look back and re-evaluate my life now living with HIV for nearly 38 years!
With much love to many; and with memories of so many people we loved and lost.