I am a speaker, living positively with HIV and AIDS since November 2004 and the budding author of the yet unpublished "AID My Journey".

Having lived through numerous challenges I would like to share my journey, proving that HIV and AIDS is a manageable disease. It need not be a death sentence; a healthy lifestyle can prolong your existence if you have prior knowledge of what to do, where to go, when, and how to do it, making my speaking relevant and personal and designed to be both educational as well as motivational.

I am one of the most positive (pun intended) individuals you will ever meet. At the very late age of 46, I was diagnosed HIV positive on the 11th November 2004 while living in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

It is not a depressing story of my life but is in fact a celebration and insight into how to survive living with HIV and AIDS.

The perception amongst the black South African community is that white people, specifically white women are not vulnerable to HIV/AIDS; my knowledge of this comes from actual counselling of the black SA community this past year, which is partly what inspired me to share my status assisting in removing the stigma associated with the disease.

The white South African community feel that they are not as vulnerable as the black community. They are still in denial and terrified to acknowledge that they are at risk or already HIV positive and have "ostrich head in the sand syndrome" if they cannot see it, it is not there. The regrettable fact of this is that companies do not address the HIV issue throughout the year and tend to wait until the 1st December, World AIDS day. Addressed once a year is inadequate to monitor employee's health. forgetting that it is an ongoing result of absenteeism, health, and wellness, loss of staff and work hours.

Talks consist of empowering and educating people on living with this life threatening disease in a manner that could, handled correctly prolong their lives.I am trying to alleviate the stigma attached to the disease and able to counsel individuals having completed a Lay Counsellor and Victim Empowerment Course should they require.

The talks will help put some perspective on the disease and take away the fear people have of living with the virus or going for that dreaded test.

My opinion is rather; know your status than not know it! Knowing your status means you can "Deal With It", make the correct choices to live a healthy ongoing lifestyle and you will be surprised at the acceptance and support you receive from friends and family.

I am an in-your-face kind of person but endeavour not to come across as arrogant, disrespectful, or condescending but do tend to say a thing as it is and if I do this and it provokes a person into action then I have accomplished what I set out to do.