Today is World AIDS Day, people are wearing their red ribbons to remember and protect the futures of those living with HIV. Among those people is 26-year-old Kyle Cook, a former University of Leeds student who had a shocking revelation following a diagnosis six years ago. Kyle, originally from Bootle, was told he had HIV when he was 20 years old.
Six years later, Kyle takes one tablet a day to treat the virus and has spent time reflecting and helping others who are in the early stages of their diagnosis. Since then Kyle, who lives in Leeds, has grown the confidence to be a voice for those living with HIV and the LGBTQ+ community.
Working with Skyline, a Leeds charity, he wants to educate others that HIV diagnoses and the treatment is no different to those living with IBS and epilepsy. Kyle told the ECHO: “My diagnosis is a really good lesson in getting tested because I never used to because I was always safe.
