Anne Chuchmuch doesn’t want people to judge her just because she has HIV.
The 46-year-old contracted the autoimmune disease in 2005 and has lived with it ever since. She hasn’t gone on any medication but she said she has to be careful of catching anything -- even the common cold. Having the disease not only affected her life but all those around her as well.
Chuchmuch said when she told her family that she had HIV they turned their backs on her. It took years of convincing but she finally started to repair her relationship with her father.
Getting rid of these kinds of myths and fears has become her mission, she said.
“People seem to be fine until I disclose to them that I do have the virus and then attitudes and perceptions change and to me that’s just a form of stigmatism,” Chuchmuch said. “People with the virus are people just like anybody else and they shouldn’t be treated any different. We’re all human beings. Just because people have, HIV doesn’t mean you should treat them any differently. It’s hurtful.
Chuchmuch said people still have the fear that they could contract the virus just by being around her. To help educate people she has started to speak publicly about living with the virus. She said she hopes that helps people become less afraid like her father.
People repeatedly ask her how to spot someone with HIV or AIDS and she said there’s no way anyone can.
Chuchmuch joined more than 50 participants at the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life on Sunday. She said the walk raises awareness and educates the public but also offers support with the disease.
“I believe there needs to be more education out there,” she said. “The younger generation coming up, they need to know. I will have this for the rest of my life. I hope I do live a long life but I don’t need to be judged.”
Cheri Mayes helped to organize a group of eight to participate at the walk. Together they raised about $200 for AIDS Thunder Bay. She always enjoyed walking and wanted to do something to give back to the community.
“I usually walk my dog for hours anyway so I thought why not support something as well,” Mayes said. “It makes you feel good to be doing something so great for the community.”
She added that she would probably come back to walk next year.
Lawrence Korhonen, executive director for AIDS Thunder Bay, said they hoped to raise about $12,000 at the event. He said it was important to make sure the public knew as much as possible about the virus.
“It’s important to raise awareness so that everyone knows that AIDS and HIV are definitely in our community,” Korhonen said. “There are many people in our community that don’t even know that they are infected and they could be putting themselves or other people at risk. We want people to know that in order to not spread the virus.”
Anyone who suspects they might have contracted the virus can contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit or AIDS Thunder Bay to take an anonymously test.
