A donation of $600 towards support services provided to HIV positive people by Body Positive Auckland has been welcomed, following news that the organisation has run out of money to assist with members' medical expenses and other needs. Lateshift cruise club announced this morning that just on $300 donated by visitors to the club will be matched dollar for dollar by the club's management. "Since we learned over a month ago that Body Positive had run out of funds to assist sick and stressed people with HIV and AIDS we noted that very little help had been forthcoming," says Lateshift owner Jay Bennie. "It's disappointing that more glbt people and businesses and organisations seem to be ignoring the plight of those afflicted by HIV in our own communities so we hope this money will start the ball rolling. Body Positive Chief Executive Bruce Kilmister, who declined to be paid for six months this year to save the organisation from financial ruin, says BP is "absolutely delighted and grateful" for the donation. He says two other donations totaling just over $100 have also been offered. "More and more our 420 HIV positive members have to rely on this kind of financial assistance," says Kilmister. The Christmas and New Year periods are historically a time of heightened medical and psychological stress for HIV positive people, many of whom are on limited incomes due to their illness. Details of how to donate money, including by internet banking, are available on the Body Positive website.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 28th December 2009 - 11:38am