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Bob Bowers HIV/AIDS Activist, Long-Term SURVIVOR, n’ Educator
Photo: Bob Bowers, 38 year HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivor.
May 11, 2021—Bob Bowers, also known as “Da Pirate,” or “One Tough Pirate,” is a 38-year thriving survivor of HIV/AIDS. To broaden his message of survival, youth prevention through education, hope and compassion, he founded HIVictorious, Inc. ® in 2005. As an HIV positive speaker, Bob knows first-hand the importance of putting a face to the disease in hopes of reducing AIDS stigma. He is far from the ‘stereotypical’ image of a person with AIDS, thus having a profound and lasting impact on his audiences. He is generously outspoken about his life struggles and personal choices prior to the time of his infection. Through his public speaking, he shares how HIV disease has helped him to make better choices and to appreciate the very simple beauty of day-to-day life. “For everything negative I can say about HIV, I can also find something positive to say. It’s all about choices and playing the hand you are dealt.”
Contracting HIV nearly four decades ago, before HIV testing was available, and shortly after receiving his ‘official’ diagnosis before anti-viral medications were available, Bob’s hope for survival turned immediately inward to mind, body and spirit. He continues to fight the daily battles of adverse drug reactions through his intense desire to live. His tough muscular and tattooed appearance is softened by his inner sincerity and compassion while sharing his 38-year experience with this devastating disease.
Mr. Bowers is truly dedicated to making a lasting difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as other social issues. He is a powerful and motivating public speaker that reaches out to a large array of diverse audiences. He is a tireless and passionate advocate helping to shape HIV/AIDS policy. He is also active in fund-raising events, camps for youth affected or infected by HIV, guest-speaking engagements, and youth prevention education in schools, colleges, jails and community organizations. He has been interviewed and featured through Film, Television, Radio, Magazine and Newspapers, and has written articles featured in Web-MD, The Body, and AIDS Project Los Angeles’ Positive Living. The feature length AIDS documentary, “The Fire Within”, follows his life with Shawn Bowers during 1999 and is a moving story of courage, passion for life and the healing use of choice. Some of Bob’s awards are: FWA Winner of Best Speaking Panel-Human Sexuality, San Diego State University; AIDS Network Client Services Volunteer Award and AIDS Network Executive Director’s Award for Outstanding Community HIV/AIDS Service, Madison, Wisconsin.
Bob had the honor of being a General with POZ Army in the fight to cure HIV.
His voice, passion, and commitment continues through OTP Productions, Inc.! You can view One Tough Pirate on the cover of POZ Magazine He was also featured on the cover of Positively Aware. You can view more of his story and outreach by searching “Bob Bowers HIV AIDS” using Google’s search.
Bob is living proof that there is nothing impossible in this world if you apply yourself physically, spiritually and emotionally. He is a champion for hope and survival despite some of the difficult circumstances that we ALL face in life. Mr. Bowers states,
“Compassion is our cure ®.”
If you’d like to contact Bob, aka One Tough Pirate, you can use the below links to social networks.
Bob Bowers on Facebook
Join Bob on Instagram
Bob Bowers on Twitter
HIV/AIDS Documentary, “The Fire Within”
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Source: https://onetoughpirate.wordpress.com/bob_bowers_hiv_aids_activist_educator/
"Reproduced with permission - "Bob Bowers"
Bob Bowers
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