Latest news with #Snowdonia10PeakChallenge
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Sally Gunnell relishing taking part in latest Tackle HIV challenge
Gunnell has been a long-standing supporter of the organisation, taking on several endurance events alongside the campaign's figurehead, former Wales rugby international Gareth Thomas, and wants to keep playing her part in spreading the word. 'These challenges are hard, they are not for the feint-hearted, by any means,' she said. 'You have to physically be able to walk for that amount of time up those hills. That is the thing that has really astounded me, that you can live with HIV and just carry on living a normal life, being able to do such challenges. 'Gareth has done triathlons, marathons, you name it, he has physically been able to do it. What he can do with it physically is just incredible 'We have heard so many bad stories in the past around AIDS and HIV, so events like this are really about changing that story.' The Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge crosses the most remote mountain range in Wales and England - the Carneddau - a route 25 km in length which has 1200m of ascent and descent. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tackle HIV (@tacklehiv) Gunnell has been warming up for her latest hike by lacing up her walking boots on the South Downs, near her home in Sussex, while temperatures of zero degrees are expected at the summits. But with Thomas at the helm and some invaluable local knowledge, Gunnell knows she is in safe hands. 'There's about 12 of us, including people guiding us up who we will be relying on,' she said. 'They are all different backgrounds and ages, we will be out there for a good 10-12 hours, we will need each other to get ourselves through. 'Gareth is incredible. He has so much stamina and I have experienced watching him at various events relentlessly spreading the word. 'He is always bubbly, he will keep us going and he will be the leader out there. He always has a good story to tell and that's what we will need to hear.' The Snowdonia mission will build on the initiative's recent appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden was designed by award-winning designer Manoj Malde and marked a celebration of how far science and medicine have come in the treatment of HIV since it was discovered over 40 years ago. And the ability to spread the campaign's messages on such a stage proved invaluable, according to Viiv Healthcare's Helen McDowell. 'We have been super happy with the impact the Flower Show has had on the campaign,' said McDowell, Head of Government affairs & Global Public Health at the organisation. 'We had people coming to the garden saying they had marked it down as they had read about it or seen it on TV in the preview shows. 'We got lots of interest, lots of people wanted to learn about the message of the garden. Elements like the U=U bench, in particular, were a real draw for people to understand more about HIV. 'It has been really well received and gained a huge international following, which is also important. HIV is not something that respects borders, it is a truly global challenge, so it was really good to do something that is so local and British that can also reach so far.
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Gareth Thomas tackles Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge
The former British & Irish Lions skipper will join a team that also features Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell for the Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge, which sees the team take on a mountain journey climbing many of the highest mountains in Wales and crossing the most remote mountain range in Wales and England – the Carneddau. The route is 25km in all, with 1200 metres of ascent and descent. And while bright sunshine is not expected, Thomas is ready to brave the elements for a cause he holds dear to his heart – Tackle HIV, which looks to tackle misunderstanding of HIV as well as tackling the stigma around it. He said: 'It's going to be a bit wet and windy but sometimes when things go against you, everyone comes together a little bit more. A bit of rain and a bit of wind will help us. 'I feel as a campaign, what we have always done and what has been a big part of my life and my career is learning in different ways. 'We've done a lot around verbal education and feeding people the facts and statistics and numbers. Sometimes in certain campaigns that becomes the only relevance, getting people to understand the facts. 'But because I feel HIV is such a lifestyle thing, we have to get people to realise, not just tell them that people who live with HIV are not restricted physically and mentally of their capabilities. 'Sometimes when you stand up and are the example of what you are saying, people take notice even more. So to do a physical challenge backs up everything we have been verbally saying for the last five years that this campaign has been going.' While the team might have to deal with difficult weather conditions, Thomas believes that the natural beauty of Snowdonia will help increase awareness of the challenge and create greater interest. He added: 'Potentially, we will walk past people on the side of the mountain. It's an amazing thing, it's a really friendly place. If anyone wants to find a sense of comfort, they should go to the side of a mountain. People we walk past, people we have conversations with may never have heard about this campaign and because we are on the side of a mountain, they become inquisitive.'
South Wales Guardian
12 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Sally Gunnell relishing taking part in latest Tackle HIV challenge
Gunnell has been a long-standing supporter of the organisation, taking on several endurance events alongside the campaign's figurehead, former Wales rugby international Gareth Thomas, and wants to keep playing her part in spreading the word. 'These challenges are hard, they are not for the feint-hearted, by any means,' she said. 'You have to physically be able to walk for that amount of time up those hills. That is the thing that has really astounded me, that you can live with HIV and just carry on living a normal life, being able to do such challenges. 'Gareth has done triathlons, marathons, you name it, he has physically been able to do it. What he can do with it physically is just incredible 'We have heard so many bad stories in the past around AIDS and HIV, so events like this are really about changing that story.' The Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge crosses the most remote mountain range in Wales and England - the Carneddau - a route 25 km in length which has 1200m of ascent and descent. A post shared by Tackle HIV (@tacklehiv) Gunnell has been warming up for her latest hike by lacing up her walking boots on the South Downs, near her home in Sussex, while temperatures of zero degrees are expected at the summits. But with Thomas at the helm and some invaluable local knowledge, Gunnell knows she is in safe hands. 'There's about 12 of us, including people guiding us up who we will be relying on,' she said. 'They are all different backgrounds and ages, we will be out there for a good 10-12 hours, we will need each other to get ourselves through. 'Gareth is incredible. He has so much stamina and I have experienced watching him at various events relentlessly spreading the word. 'He is always bubbly, he will keep us going and he will be the leader out there. He always has a good story to tell and that's what we will need to hear.' The Snowdonia mission will build on the initiative's recent appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden was designed by award-winning designer Manoj Malde and marked a celebration of how far science and medicine have come in the treatment of HIV since it was discovered over 40 years ago. And the ability to spread the campaign's messages on such a stage proved invaluable, according to Viiv Healthcare's Helen McDowell. 'We have been super happy with the impact the Flower Show has had on the campaign,' said McDowell, Head of Government affairs & Global Public Health at the organisation. 'We had people coming to the garden saying they had marked it down as they had read about it or seen it on TV in the preview shows. 'We got lots of interest, lots of people wanted to learn about the message of the garden. Elements like the U=U bench, in particular, were a real draw for people to understand more about HIV. 'It has been really well received and gained a huge international following, which is also important. HIV is not something that respects borders, it is a truly global challenge, so it was really good to do something that is so local and British that can also reach so far. 'Events like this (Snowdonia) challenge also demonstrate the ability to really thrive with HIV, and through these different ways we reach more people and educate more people about the realities of living with HIV in 2025.'
