Ellie's pride story

My HIV story started when I was 21 after taking a routine home STI test. Shocked and scared, I decided to keep it mostly a secret. As the years went on the secret started to swallow me, so I began to speak publically about my status. 

For the most part this freed me. I moved to Manchester back in 2022 and I wanted to do more I went to the George House Trust to offer to volunteer and become a positive speaker. 

They welcomed me like family. I know it’s called George House Trust, but it’s always felt more like a home to me.

There’s been a lot of difficult times over the last 7 years since my diagnosis. There’s certainly been some days where I wasn’t sure what the future would hold for me but during all that I try to remind myself that I’ve graduated from university with a first-class honour, I have developed a successful career, became a HIV activist and been offered some incredible opportunities. 

I've also done incredible little things like, maintaining a wonderful relationship with my parents, I've started living alone, I've met some incredible friends, and for the most part I've been really happy. So, I would love to shine a light on how a HIV diagnosis isn't the end, it's just the start of a new beginning.

So this is my story. What’s yours?”