AccolAIDS
John Spencer - Kevin Brown P.W.A. Hero Award
Recently I attended the 2007 AccolAIDS Event where I was presented with the Kevin Brown P.W.A. Hero Award and had the honor of accepting on behalf of my now deceased partner Samual John Spencer. My experience was of how collectively we can make a difference, as John through his collaboration with others did and was one of the first people to stand up and say "We have to do something about this disease". For those that have to deal with this disease on a daily
basis, thank God there are people that care and go the extra mile. I was moved by all the various organizations that support, nurture and are willing to see the goal before them to educate, to be in the presence of fear and hopefully be a part of eradicating this disease. I experienced many heartfelt moments as people who have dedicated themselves by choosing professions that quite often must be hard. I found that this moved me sometimes to tears. Hearing of this person of persons that had contributed so much and then seeing their humility and gratitude for making a difference while they came up to be honored was nothing short of wonderful. I am glad to have been with John for 13 years totally accepting and loving him and his courageous way of seeing the world. John was my personal gift when I doubted things in my life I could look at him and see his strength and conviction because he always believed there would be a cure and he would say "I'm still here", another day closer. I will love him always and feel content to know he had a rich life surrounded by many who loved him and he did not let the disease get in the way of accepting the love he received from me and others. He remains in many hearts and we are better for having known and loved him.
His Partner, Bradley
Carol Romanow - Health Promotion and Harm Reduction Award
Carol who has been a long term volunteer with VARCS’ Mobile X was presented with this award. She is deeply committed to ensuring that those who are most disadvantaged have a voice in constructing the programs and policies that affect their lives. She was director at the Vancouver Downtown Eastside HIV/IDU Consumers Board for many years and was instrumental in establishing the needle exchange at the Washington Hotel. She has helped organize many community events, including the Consumers Board Annual AIDS Day, the first National Hepatitis C Day, and other AIDS and HCV Forums. She is a central force within the downtown Eastside organizations that promote health and aim to reduce harms. Since relocating to Victoria, Carol has worked with the Society of Intravenous Drug Users (SOLID), a remarkably successful needle exchange program which is Operated on a shoestring budget, out of the back of her vehicle.