"Living with HIV/AIDS" is the title of a program to be presented at Brenau University at 12:30.
Sponsored by Brenau, the North Georgia AIDS Alliance and Gainesville State College, it will feature J.R. Watson, a 51-year-old heterosexual, who discovered he had HIV in the summer of 1995 at the age of 40. Only 2 ½ years later Watson was diagnosed with AIDS. In 1998 Watson became an HIV/AIDS educator and personal experience speaker. Watson has traveled the state of Georgia giving his personal account of the effects of the disease. Watson says he hopes that his story will help save lives and diminishes the stigma surrounding the disease.
After the event, to be held in Thurmond McRae Lecture Hall, students and others from the audience will be asked to to sign a pledge vowing to keep the Promise to Stop AIDS. Participants will learn that they can keep this promise through education and advocacy. When participants sign the pledge they will receive a red ribbon with beads.
Also, throughout the day AID Gwinnett and The North Georgia AIDS Alliance will offer free, anonymous HIV/AIDS Testing to students, faculty and staff.
A candlelight vigil at Longwood Park will not be held. Earlier reports to that effect were in error, according officials with the AIDS alliance.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/11/99425