Latest news with #SnowdoniaTenPeakChallenge
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gareth Thomas tackles Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge
Gareth Thomas and a team of 14 people undertaking the Snowdonia Ten Peak Challenge, raising awareness of HIV stigma, and challenging perceptions that living with HIV limits what you can achieve. Pictures by Paul Currie/for Matt Dickens Photography By Paul Eddison Wales rugby legend Gareth Thomas has dug into the deepest recesses of his soul on a rugby pitch so a little wind and rain is not going to put him off an epic challenge for Tackle HIV. The former British & Irish Lions skipper will join a team that also features Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell for the Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge, which sees the team take on a mountain journey climbing many of the highest mountains in Wales and crossing the most remote mountain range in Wales and England – the Carneddau. Advertisement The route is 25km in all, with 1200 metres of ascent and descent. And while bright sunshine is not expected, Thomas is ready to brave the elements for a cause he holds dear to his heart – Tackle HIV, which looks to tackle misunderstanding of HIV as well as tackling the stigma around it. He said: 'It's going to be a bit wet and windy but sometimes when things go against you, everyone comes together a little bit more. A bit of rain and a bit of wind will help us. 'I feel as a campaign, what we have always done and what has been a big part of my life and my career is learning in different ways. 'We've done a lot around verbal education and feeding people the facts and statistics and numbers. Sometimes in certain campaigns that becomes the only relevance, getting people to understand the facts. Advertisement 'But because I feel HIV is such a lifestyle thing, we have to get people to realise, not just tell them that people who live with HIV are not restricted physically and mentally of their capabilities. 'Sometimes when you stand up and are the example of what you are saying, people take notice even more. So to do a physical challenge backs up everything we have been verbally saying for the last five years that this campaign has been going.' While the team might have to deal with difficult weather conditions, Thomas believes that the natural beauty of Snowdonia will help increase awareness of the challenge and create greater interest. He added: 'Potentially, we will walk past people on the side of the mountain. It's an amazing thing, it's a really friendly place. If anyone wants to find a sense of comfort, they should go to the side of a mountain. People we walk past, people we have conversations with may never have heard about this campaign and because we are on the side of a mountain, they become inquisitive.' Tackle HIV is a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare, with Terrence Higgins Trust as the charity partner, which aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. For more information visit and follow @tacklehiv
Wales Online
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Gareth Thomas backs Wales player to shine for British & Irish Lions this summer
Gareth Thomas backs Wales player to shine for British & Irish Lions this summer Thomas believes Tomos Williams could be a match-winner for the Lions in Australia Gareth Thomas and a team of 14 people are undertaking the Snowdonia Ten Peak Challenge, raising awareness of HIV stigma, and challenging perceptions that living with HIV limits what you can achieve. Pictures by Paul Currie/for Matt Dickens Photography Wales might have their lowest Lions contingent since the Second World War but former skipper Gareth Thomas believes Tomos Williams is a match-winner who can force his way into Test contention. The scrum-half was named Premiership Player of the Season for his performances in his first year for Gloucester, and earned a first Lions call-up despite playing for a Wales team still searching for a first win since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He impressed off the bench in the opening Lions fixture against Argentina, and will now make a first start alongside Finn Russell against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday. Thomas believes there is something special about Williams, who could both push his way into the Test 23, as well as inspiring any Welsh youngsters to ensure there is greater representation in four years' time. Thomas said: 'Tomos Williams is a person who can change games. He has great individual talent and that talent has probably got him on the plane. He can win a game for you if he gets an opportunity. 'To have the two (Williams and Jac Morgan) of them represent Wales and potentially press for a Test spot will be great motivation for whoever is watching now and will be playing for Wales in four years' time. Article continues below 'They will think there is the potential to get there from Wales. Even though at the moment, rugby in Wales is negative, this time in four years' time, we could have won a Grand Slam and have 15 people on the tour.' Thomas speaks from experience. When he toured with the Lions in 2005, going onto captain the Test side after Brian O'Driscoll was injured two minutes into the first Test, just three Scots were initially included. Two decades on, Scotland have provided a much bigger contingent, with eight in Andy Farrell's original squad of 38, although tighthead prop Zander Fagerson has been forced to withdraw through injury. So while Thomas would have loved more Welsh players to make it onto the plane Down Under, he acknowledges the reasons for the decision and believes that the public back home will still get behind the team as much as ever. He added: 'It is one of those things that comes around once every four years. "Sometimes it comes on a year where you have had a good year as a team, and sometimes it is when you have had a bad year, that is the way it goes. 'The thing with the Lions, there seems to be an element of sometimes people dropping their identity of Scottish, Welsh or Irish and supporting the Lions. "I don't think the pubs in Wales will be empty because there might not be any players from Wales playing, they will go to support the British & Irish Lions, not just supporting the Welsh players in the Lions. It is a wonderful example of how sport can unify.' On the subject of unifying, Thomas this week took part in the Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge for Tackle HIV, in a bid to tackle misunderstanding of HIV as well as addressing the stigma around it. He has been part of the campaign for more than half a decade now, and this challenge, which involved climbing many of the highest mountains in Wales and crossing the most remote mountain range in Wales and England – the Carneddau - is an opportunity to show what is possible for those living with HIV. He added: "HIV is such a lifestyle thing, we have to get people to realise, not just tell them that people who live with HIV are not restricted physically and mentally of their capabilities. 'Sometimes when you stand up and are the example of what you are saying, people take notice even more. So to do a physical challenge backs up everything we have been verbally saying for the last five years that this campaign has been going.' Article continues below Tackle HIV is a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare, with Terrence Higgins Trust as the charity partner, which aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. For more information visit and follow @tacklehiv
Scotsman
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Sally Gunnell is relishing her latest challenge aimed at banishing the stigma around HIV
Sally Gunnell OBE Sally Gunnell is relishing her latest challenge aimed at banishing the stigma around HIV, admitting she continues to feel 'astounded' by the feats of those living with it. Free weekly newsletter Join our weekly YourWorld newsletter for updates, behind-the-scenes insights from our editors and your chance to shape what's next. Free weekly newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 1992 Olympic champion is part of a team taking on the Snowdonia Ten Peak Challenge as part of the Tackle HIV campaign, joining other well-known celebrity supporters as well as the initiative's advocates, some of whom are living with HIV. Gunnell has been a long-standing supporter of the organisation, taking on several endurance events alongside the campaign's figurehead, former Wales rugby international Gareth Thomas, and wants to keep playing her part in spreading the word. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gareth Thomas | Tackle HiV 'These challenges are hard, they are not for the feint-hearted, by any means,' she said. 'You have to physically be able to walk for that amount of time up those hills. That is the thing that has really astounded me, that you can live with HIV and just carry on living a normal life, being able to do such challenges. 'Gareth has done triathlons, marathons, you name it, he has physically been able to do it. What he can do with it physically is just incredible. We have heard so many bad stories in the past around AIDS and HIV, so events like this are really about changing that story.' The Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge crosses the most remote mountain range in Wales and England - the Carneddau - a 25km route which has 1200m of ascent and descent. Gunnell has been warming up for her latest hike by lacing up her walking boots on the South Downs, near her home in Sussex, while temperatures of zero degrees are expected at the summits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But with Thomas at the helm and some invaluable local knowledge, Gunnell knows she is in safe hands. 'There's about 12 of us, including people guiding us up who we will be relying on,' she said. Sally Gunnell OBE 'They are all different backgrounds and ages, we will be out there for a good 10-12 hours, we will need each other to get ourselves through. Gareth is incredible. He has so much stamina and I have experienced watching him at various events relentlessly spreading the word. 'He is always bubbly, he will keep us going and he will be the leader out there. He always has a good story to tell and that's what we will need to hear.' The Snowdonia mission will build on the initiative's recent appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. The Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden was designed by award-winning designer Manoj Malde and marked a celebration of how far science and medicine have come in the treatment of HIV since it was discovered over 40 years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And the ability to spread the campaign's messages on such a stage proved invaluable, according to Viiv Healthcare's Helen McDowell. 'We have been super happy with the impact the Flower Show has had on the campaign,' said McDowell, Head of Government affairs & Global Public Health at the organisation. 'We had people coming to the garden saying they had marked it down as they had read about it or seen it on TV in the preview shows. 'We got lots of interest, lots of people wanted to learn about the message of the garden. Elements like the U=U bench, in particular, were a real draw for people to understand more about HIV. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It has been really well received and gained a huge international following, which is also important. HIV is not something that respects borders, it is a truly global challenge, so it was really good to do something that is so local and British that can also reach so far. 'Events like this (Snowdonia) challenge also demonstrate the ability to really thrive with HIV, and through these different ways we reach more people and educate more people about the realities of living with HIV in 2025.'
Scotsman
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Sally Gunnell is relishing her latest challenge aimed at banishing the stigma around HIV
Sally Gunnell OBE Sally Gunnell is relishing her latest challenge aimed at banishing the stigma around HIV, admitting she continues to feel 'astounded' by the feats of those living with it. Free weekly newsletter Join our weekly YourWorld newsletter for updates, behind-the-scenes insights from our editors and your chance to shape what's next. Free weekly newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 1992 Olympic champion is part of a team taking on the Snowdonia Ten Peak Challenge as part of the Tackle HIV campaign, joining other well-known celebrity supporters as well as the initiative's advocates, some of whom are living with HIV. Gunnell has been a long-standing supporter of the organisation, taking on several endurance events alongside the campaign's figurehead, former Wales rugby international Gareth Thomas, and wants to keep playing her part in spreading the word. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gareth Thomas | Tackle HiV 'These challenges are hard, they are not for the feint-hearted, by any means,' she said. 'You have to physically be able to walk for that amount of time up those hills. That is the thing that has really astounded me, that you can live with HIV and just carry on living a normal life, being able to do such challenges. 'Gareth has done triathlons, marathons, you name it, he has physically been able to do it. What he can do with it physically is just incredible. We have heard so many bad stories in the past around AIDS and HIV, so events like this are really about changing that story.' The Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge crosses the most remote mountain range in Wales and England - the Carneddau - a 25km route which has 1200m of ascent and descent. Gunnell has been warming up for her latest hike by lacing up her walking boots on the South Downs, near her home in Sussex, while temperatures of zero degrees are expected at the summits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But with Thomas at the helm and some invaluable local knowledge, Gunnell knows she is in safe hands. 'There's about 12 of us, including people guiding us up who we will be relying on,' she said. Sally Gunnell OBE 'They are all different backgrounds and ages, we will be out there for a good 10-12 hours, we will need each other to get ourselves through. Gareth is incredible. He has so much stamina and I have experienced watching him at various events relentlessly spreading the word. 'He is always bubbly, he will keep us going and he will be the leader out there. He always has a good story to tell and that's what we will need to hear.' The Snowdonia mission will build on the initiative's recent appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. The Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden was designed by award-winning designer Manoj Malde and marked a celebration of how far science and medicine have come in the treatment of HIV since it was discovered over 40 years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And the ability to spread the campaign's messages on such a stage proved invaluable, according to Viiv Healthcare's Helen McDowell. 'We have been super happy with the impact the Flower Show has had on the campaign,' said McDowell, Head of Government affairs & Global Public Health at the organisation. 'We had people coming to the garden saying they had marked it down as they had read about it or seen it on TV in the preview shows. 'We got lots of interest, lots of people wanted to learn about the message of the garden. Elements like the U=U bench, in particular, were a real draw for people to understand more about HIV. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It has been really well received and gained a huge international following, which is also important. HIV is not something that respects borders, it is a truly global challenge, so it was really good to do something that is so local and British that can also reach so far.
North Wales Live
26-06-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Live
Olympic champion Sally Gunnell takes on latest challenge to banish stigma around HIV
Sally Gunnell is relishing her latest challenge aimed at banishing the stigma around HIV, admitting she continues to feel 'astounded' by the feats of those living with it. The 1992 Olympic champion is part of a team taking on the Snowdonia Ten Peak Challenge as part of the Tackle HIV campaign, joining other well-known celebrity supporters as well as the initiative's advocates, some of whom are living with HIV. Gunnell has been a long-standing supporter of the organisation, taking on several endurance events alongside the campaign's figurehead, former Wales rugby international Gareth Thomas, and wants to keep playing her part in spreading the word. 'These challenges are hard, they are not for the feint-hearted, by any means,' she said. 'You have to physically be able to walk for that amount of time up those hills. That is the thing that has really astounded me, that you can live with HIV and just carry on living a normal life, being able to do such challenges. 'Gareth has done triathlons, marathons, you name it, he has physically been able to do it. What he can do with it physically is just incredible 'We have heard so many bad stories in the past around AIDS and HIV, so events like this are really about changing that story.' The Snowdonia 10 Peak Challenge crosses the most remote mountain range in Wales and England - the Carneddau - a route 25 km in length which has 1200m of ascent and descent. Gunnell has been warming up for her latest hike by lacing up her walking boots on the South Downs, near her home in Sussex, while temperatures of zero degrees are expected at the summits. But with Thomas at the helm and some invaluable local knowledge, Gunnell knows she is in safe hands. 'There's about 12 of us, including people guiding us up who we will be relying on,' she said. 'They are all different backgrounds and ages, we will be out there for a good 10-12 hours, we will need each other to get ourselves through. 'Gareth is incredible. He has so much stamina and I have experienced watching him at various events relentlessly spreading the word. 'He is always bubbly, he will keep us going and he will be the leader out there. He always has a good story to tell and that's what we will need to hear.' The Snowdonia mission will build on the initiative's recent appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. The Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden was designed by award-winning designer Manoj Malde and marked a celebration of how far science and medicine have come in the treatment of HIV since it was discovered over 40 years ago. And the ability to spread the campaign's messages on such a stage proved invaluable, according to Viiv Healthcare's Helen McDowell. 'We have been super happy with the impact the Flower Show has had on the campaign,' said McDowell, Head of Government affairs & Global Public Health at the organisation. 'We had people coming to the garden saying they had marked it down as they had read about it or seen it on TV in the preview shows. 'We got lots of interest, lots of people wanted to learn about the message of the garden. Elements like the U=U bench, in particular, were a real draw for people to understand more about HIV. 'It has been really well received and gained a huge international following, which is also important. HIV is not something that respects borders, it is a truly global challenge, so it was really good to do something that is so local and British that can also reach so far. 'Events like this (Snowdonia) challenge also demonstrate the ability to really thrive with HIV, and through these different ways we reach more people and educate more people about the realities of living with HIV in 2025.'
