‘HIV Is Part Of My Life, But It’s Not Everything About Me’: Why Shiv Is Running For World AIDS Day
Image: Shiv in Thorne Harbour Health's 2025 HIV Still Matters campaign / Thorne Harbour Health
Diagnosed with HIV at 22, Shiv says injectable treatment has changed his day-to-day life. A dedicated Thorne Harbour Health volunteer, this year he’s joining the Red Ribbon Run to help challenge the stigma that remains.
Shiv was diagnosed with HIV in 2019, when he was 22. Seven years on, one of the biggest changes in his life has been switching to injectable HIV treatment.
“Not having to think about taking tablets every day has given me more freedom and means HIV isn’t on my mind as much in my daily life,” he says.
“I think it’s important for people to hear about these changes because treatment has come a long way. We still have stigma to deal with, but there’s also a lot of progress to recognise.”
This year Shiv is taking part in Thorne Harbour Health’s Red Ribbon Run at Albert Park, held ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December. The run sits alongside Thorne Harbour’s World AIDS Day street appeal and candlelit memorial. Last year the Red Ribbon Run and World AIDS Day appeal raised $17,000, with all funds going directly back into Thorne Harbour Health’s work supporting the community.
“I wanted to do something for HIV awareness, but also something for myself and my health,” Shiv says. “I think it’s important to challenge the stigma around HIV and show people that living with HIV doesn’t stop us from doing things we enjoy.”
For Shiv, seeing people living with HIV out running is a reminder of something simple. “We work, we exercise, we have goals and we want to enjoy life. HIV is part of my life, but it’s not everything about me.”
He describes the run as a day of connection. “You look around and see people coming together for the same reason, and there’s a real sense of connection and pride.”
Despite advances in treatment, Shiv says World AIDS Day remains as important as ever. “I think some people might assume that because HIV treatment has come so far, HIV isn’t really an issue anymore. But that’s not the case,” he says.
“We still need to educate people, talk about prevention and treatment, remember those we’ve lost and support people living with HIV today.”
Shiv is now a dedicated volunteer with Thorne Harbour Health, something he says grew out of his own experience after diagnosis. In 2025 he shared his story as part of Thorne Harbour’s HIV Still Matters campaign. “I started volunteering because I wanted to be involved and do something positive with my experience,” he says. “If sharing my experience helps even one person feel less alone, then I think it’s worth it.”
And for anyone unsure about signing up for the Red Ribbon Run, his advice is simple. “Just come along and give it a go! You don’t have to be a runner or super fit. You can walk, take it at your own pace and enjoy being part of the event.”
The Red Ribbon Run is on Sunday 29 November at Albert Park, Melbourne. Walk, jog or run an untimed 3.6km, 7.2km or 10.8km course. Registration is free for people living with HIV and First Nations community members.
Register at thorneharbour.org/get-involved/events/red-ribbon-run.
Joel Parker is the Communications Manager at Thorne Harbour Health.
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