Thursday, 8.35am - COMING face-to-face with the plight of children and families with HIV and AIDS in India has prompted a Horncastle man to raise awareness of this issue and encourage fundraising.
Chris Hall, 27, of Queen Street, works as a sexual health nurse at Lincoln County Hospital.
He recently travelled to Bangalore with a small group of people from Care Home India - a charity providing medication, education and counselling for indivi
duals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
He got involved with this charity around a year ago through his college lecturer, Maureen Bray, from Boston, who has helped raise in excess of £27,000 over the past decade.
One of the main reasons for the trip to India was to see first-hand where this money was going.
"It was very emotional," said Chris. "We spent three weeks travelling long distances across Bangalore and Kerrala regions, witnessing first hand the fantastic work of Care Home counsellors.
The group visited homes of families suffering from these diseases and also orphanages, including the Infant Jesus where there were 90 children.
"The expected life span for some of these beautiful babies and children is 15 years," he explained.
"The visits to homes were all very humbling experiences and emotional ones. Each family had its own unique story of how it has been so harshly affected by HIV/AIDS, but the common factor in all cases was that this charity had supported families to help them continue as best as possible, to regain health and function as a family once more.
"There was case of the father of a young family who had contemplated killing his wife and children because he had passed on HIV to them and couldn't live with the guilt.
"10 years on and unfortunately the young man and his seven-year-old son have died from this unforgiving disease, but his wife and 15-year-old daughter are in perfect health and enjoying life with the ongoing support of the charity."
Chris said the group were treated like royalty when they visited families in their homes, no matter how little the family owned.
"The warmth and kindness they showed was immense," he said.
"Overall it was a life changing journey, seeing the suffering across so many people regardless of age, religion or class."
Chris is hoping to get in touch with local groups in the Horncastle area to give talks about the charity, and his trip, at their meetings.
You could also help by attending a fundraising painting day at Boston Tennis Club on April 8. Tickets cost £20.
* For futher information contact Chris on 07920 143539 or Maureen on 01205 351449.
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