Garvin tells us why he’s taking on 10k to help end new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030.

‘I grew up in the '80 and '90s and heard about HIV/AIDS back in those dark days. When I came out 7 years ago, I wanted to get involved with my community. I now volunteer for Terrence Higgins Trust, and have raised money from the general public by bucket collecting at theatres, train stations and other events.

‘I’m definitely not a sportsperson and historically love to be a coach potato, but I love to challenge myself. I did the RED RUN 5K last year and was so pleased when I finished. I wanted to see if I could do 10K this year – it’s an opportunity to prove to myself that I can enjoy life more by taking on a challenge, and enjoy the sense of achievement and better self-esteem when I’ve done it. It’s also a great way to get fitter and raise money for a brilliant charity.

‘This year’s 10K will be a challenge but I am up to 7k in training with a few weeks to go. I’ve set myself a fundraising goal of £200, as times are tough for everybody and I'm wanting small contributions from a wider range of people. I think any donation is better than nothing.

‘Posting a link on social media with a personal story about why you’re doing it is important. Work colleagues are also good to ask and places like LinkedIn raise your profile and increase donation opportunities.

‘I have lots of friends living with HIV. Terrence Higgins Trust’s campaigns about better access to treatment and preventions like PrEP (which I take) make a real difference. My friends are all living their best lives because of campaigns like Can’t Pass It On/U=U (Undetectable =Untransmissible) and the ongoing work to end stigma and new cases of HIV by 2030. It's important because people that are affected by HIV should never feel stigmatised by their condition.

‘If you’re thinking of taking part in the RED RUN I’d encourage you to sign up and support a fabulous charity and cause!’