Registration for the UK’s largest World AIDS Day community event – the Red Run – is now open.

The annual World AIDS Day Red Run returns to Victoria Park on 27^th November.  Now in its 11^th year, the event has 29 charities from across the country taking part and is set to beat all previous records in terms of runners and money raised for HIV causes.  Our run in 2019 saw 2,000 people take part raising nearly £100,000 for HIV projects across the country. 

“The Red Run is such a fantastic event, that has a powerful message to reduce stigma whilst raising awareness and funding for causes around HIV. On top of that it’s an incredibly fun day!” -Jessie, 4 year participant

The Red Run is a 10k/5k charity fun run and is the only event of its kind in the UK uniting the HIV sector, creating a platform for HIV organisations across the country to raise awareness and vital funds for their work. Returning to host the event is iconic girl drag band DENIM and entertainment provided by venerable night-time institution Eagle London with DJs from legendary Horse Meat Disco.

Over the past 18 months, we have been reminded of the power and importance of community.  This notion of community resonates profoundly when telling the history of HIV and the unsung heroes that have propelled the movement forward, often quietly in the background. The parents, partners, friends, volunteers, staff, social workers and the nurses who provided medical care by day and provided emotional support by night.  These beautiful humans are heroes, and we want to celebrate them at the 2021 World AIDS Day RED RUN.  This year we have decided that instead of inviting a public figure to cut the Red Run ribbon, we are inviting a group of Community Heroes nominated by each of the 28 charities to be our 2021 Guests of Honours and official ribbon cutters.  

Mark Santos, Director of Positive East, remarked “The World AIDS Day Red Run has become so much more than just a charity 10K run. It’s an important community event that brings together people and charities fighting against HIV stigma, tackling onward HIV transmission and providing much needed care and direct support.  We’re excited that this year’s event will be national and will help support the UK’s response to HIV.”

To learn more about the Red Run and to register, visit the Red Run website www.redrun.org.uk 

In addition to the 5k/10k run, the event will host pre and post run celebrations and will have panels of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt on display, an entertainment tent and a pop – up AIDS Memorial as well as an exhibition introducing our Community Heroes.

The 2021 World AIDS Day Red Run will be held in east London’s Victoria Park on 27^th November 2021. www.redrun.org.uk

• The Red Run is sponsored by Gilead, State Street, Interbank, Eagle London, and Emerald Life.  This year’s event will build on last year’s record breaking turnout, and nearly £100,000 raised, and will support 29 HIV charities across the UK

• Participating Charities include Positive East, 4M Network, 56 Dean Street, Africa Equality Foundation, Africa Advocacy Foundation, AIDS Orphan, BlackOut UK, CHIVA, Food Chain, Frontline AIDS, GMFA, Living Well, Metro, Mildmay, Mothers2Mothers, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, NAM, National AIDS Trust, Plushealth, PositivelyUK, Prepster, Riverhouse, Sophies Forum, Spectra, StopAIDS, Switchboard, TackleAfrica, Terrence Higgins Trust, and Wandsworth Oasis.

HIV in the UK -There are approximately 103,000 living with HIV in the UK, nearly 50,000 in London and more than 35 million globally[i].  Medical advances have ensured that those living with HIV are able to live healthy and normal lives, however poor mental health and social and economic challenges continue to affect people living with HIV at disproportional rates than the general public meaning that HIV based support services are essential and needed. In 2015 6,000 new HIV diagnoses were made in the UK and of the 103,000 living with HIV, 13% remain undiagnosed leading to onward HIV transmission. 

Positive East has been on the forefront of HIV service and care for over 25 years; supporting people from point of HIV diagnoses to longer term care. Guided by our mission – to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities affected by HIV – we have developed a holistic range of health and wellbeing programmes from counselling, peer support and information and advice to HIV testing and HIV prevention outreach.  Annually, we provide direct support to 4,000 people through our programmes and HIV testing.

Contact Ian Montgomery Ian.montgomery@positiveeast.org.uk, 020 7791 9355 for further details