The shock of losing a beloved friend is something that never fully leaves you. But alongside the grief, I remember the anger — the fury at the misinformation, the stigma, and the sheer cruelty of how people with AIDS were spoken about and treated.
Back then, voices like Larry Kramer’s in the US were raging against the silence. And here in the UK, with my years in advertising, it was painfully clear: we had to get the facts out there, honestly and without judgment. People deserved truth, compassion, and dignity.
The Terrence Higgins Trust began with a simple promise — no one should have to go through this alone.
In those early days, my greatest fear was that if we launched and failed, the community might never get another chance to create a response of its own. Many of us could have told you, without hesitation, the quickest route between London’s five major hospitals and the Lighthouse. That’s how relentless the need was.
I personally lost more than 50 friends before I stopped counting.
Today, I will give thanks for every single one of them — for the joy, colour, laughter, and love they brought into the world. Their memories fuel everything we do.
When we first “ran the flag up the pole,” we genuinely didn’t know if anyone would salute it.
But you did.
Supporters, patrons, volunteers, donors, trustees, staff — every one of you answered that call.
And because of you, Terrence Higgins Trust has become the organisation Terry never lived to see: a national force for change, a lifeline, and a community built on compassion. We’ve helped drive down new infections, transform public attitudes, secure legal reform, expand treatment access, and move the UK closer than ever to ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.
Terry would have been astonished — and so very proud.
On this World AIDS Day, thank you.
For your dedication, your courage, your belief in our mission, and your refusal to let stigma win.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Martyn Butler OBE
Co-Founder, Terrence Higgins Trust
30 July 1954-21 February 2026