AIDS activism HIV prevention education awareness advocacy www.onetoughpirate.com Bob Bowers OTP Da Pirate

I love your website. I am too often on the "medicine is failing, hope is failing, infection is winning" end of things. It does my heart and soul good to be reminded that you--and many others--are LIVING with AIDS. Keep living and keep telling your story and spreading the word. You'll be in my heart and in my prayers.

~Kathi

One Tough Pirate OTP Bob Bowers Da Pirate HIV AIDS educator activist advocate awareness prevention education

Hello Dear Friend!
I hope you know that we share your values and totally understand the frustrations that face mystical warriors and activists in the face of absurdity and injustice. May Quan Yin, the Goddess of Compassion cloak you in Her protection; and may Cali, the source of Life and Death be at your side to add fierce strength as you battle ignorance. Thank you again for your passion, courage and sheer determination!

With much love, Shay

 

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My journey with AIDS is one that anyone can learn from and appreciate. It's not just about the virus that causes AIDS, rather it's about persistence, faith, hope, and compassion.
Never ever surrender! ~ Da Pirate
 
 

You Tube video of Da Pirate speaking
 

What a compassionate human being Bob Bowers is. There wasn't one person in that room Saturday night that wasn't moved by what Bob had to say. His presentation wasn't about "my life living with AIDS." It was about his outrage and suffering for others that people are still dying from a PREVENTABLE disease. I was honored to have seen him speak Saturday night.    ~Linda

 
Photos from the Corvallis Elks Charity Trust's Fundraiser for HIVictorious, Inc.
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Dear Bob,
My name is AJ from Parkview High School. I really enjoyed your presentation. I liked it because you didn't try to scare the shit out of us like a lot of presenters will. It was also more believable and meant more because you actually have HIV/AIDS.

 
 
"AIDS doesn’t have to be a death sentence. However, living with HIV/AIDS can be difficult at best. There is no ‘one way’ to living with this disease."    ~ Bob Bowers

 

Recipient of the Elks Distinguished Citizen Award for outstanding service to humanity.
 
Recognized by the University of Wisconsin MEDiC Council for continuing education efforts with the MEDiC Outreach Program and health professional students at UWSMPH
 
bob speaking at aids walk wisconsin milwaukee Guest speaker
Wisconsin AIDS Walk opening ceremonies
September 29, 2007
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 
Guest speaker
ACT V AIDS Ride Opening Ceremonies
August 2, 2007
Madison, Wisconsin

www.actride.org

 
Male Youth Counselor and Advocate
Camp Heartland
July, 2007
Willow River, Minnesota

www.campheartland.org
 
wisconsin dnr Guest presenter for the Wisconsin DNR
"Universal Precautions"
2006-2007
 
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial key west florida
 
Keynote speaker for the
International AIDS Candelight Memorial
Key West, Florida-2007
 
madison 150 time capsule 2006 Winning Entry (HIV medications and news video) into Madison's Time Capsule. The capsule is sealed at the Overture Center on State Street and will be opened in 2056
 
Board Member/Steering Committee
and member at large of the
National AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition
2004-2007
 

united states conference on aids bob bowers unsung hero

Nominated and recognized as an Unsung Hero
 in the fight against HIV/AIDS at the 2006
United States Conference on AIDS.

 
bob bowers speaking at closing ceremonies for act ride at madison capital Guest speaker
ACT IV AIDS Ride
August 3-6, 2006
Madison, Wisconsin

www.actride.org

 
da pirate at camp heartland in willow river minnesota-camp for youth infected or affected by hiv aids Male Youth Counselor and Advocate
Camp Heartland
July, 2006-August, 2006
Willow River, Minnesota-Malibu, California

www.campheartland.org
 
POZ Magazine-One Tough Pirate POZ Magazine Cover Photo and Story

"One Tough Pirate"

May, 2006

www.poz.com

 
wort fm radio madison wisconsin bob bowers in the know Monthly Radio Voice for "In the Know"
HIV/AIDS Awareness
WORT Radio
Madison, Wisconsin
 
aids network volunteer awards ceremonies madison wisconsin Recipient of  AIDS Network's  2005 Executive Director's Award for Outstanding Community HIV/AIDS Service

www.aidsnetwork.org

 
Recipient of  AIDS Network's  2004
Client Services Volunteer Award
 
campaign to end aids c2ea bob bowers wisconsin state coordinator Wisconsin State Coordinator
Co-Coordinator Northern Tier Caravan
The Campaign to END AIDS-2005

www.c2ea.org
 
da pirate at camp getaway in elkhorn wisconsin Youth and Family Counselor
Camp Getaway
August 14-19, 2005
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
 
The Fire Within aids documentary featuring bob bowers

Feature length documentary,

"The Fire Within"
2001 Watch or order online:

 www.augustmoononline.com

 
wisconsin aids ride act rides bob bowers speaking Guest speaker
ACT III AIDS Ride
opening and closing ceremonies
August 4-7, 2005
Madison, Wisconsin

www.actride.org

 
bob bowers tammy baldwin david harer act 2 aids ride madison wisconsin
Opening ceremonies with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and friend David Harer

Guest speaker
ACT II AIDS Ride
opening and closing ceremonies
August 2-7, 2004
Madison, Wisconsin

 
da pirate at camp heartland in willow river minnesota Male Youth Counselor and Advocate
Camp Heartland
June, 2005-October, 2005
Willow River, Minnesota

www.campheartland.org
 
Guest speaker
Wisconsin Association of Student Councils
State Conference
Green Bay, Wisconsin
May, 2005-April, 2006
 
Guest speaker
Wisconsin State HIV Conference
Caring for Ourselves
"Long Term Survival Panel"
Madison, Wisconsin-2005
 
bob bowers speaking at world aids day ceremonies madison wisconsin Guest speaker
World AIDS Day Ceremonies

December 1, 2004
Madison, Wisconsin
 
bob bowers and wisconsin governor jim doyle at aids walk wisconsin
Thanking Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle
Guest speaker
Wisconsin AIDS Walk opening ceremonies
September 28, 2003
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 
Advocate on behalf of Wisconsin
Save ADAP
September 27-29, 2004
March 14-15, 2005
Washington D.C.-Capitol Hill
 

Guest speaker
Wisconsin State HIV Conference
Caring for Ourselves
"Building and Maintaining Lean Body Mass"
Appleton, Wisconsin-2003

 
  Cover story
Wisconsin State Journal:

HIVictorious

August 2, 2004

 

"They are In No Hurry for That Happy Ending"
AIDS Project Los Angeles' Positive Living Published March 1999

 
Member and part of the Steering Committee of the National SAVE AIDS Drug Assistance Program  Working Group
2004-2007
 

Published on The Body

Read:

"Fit and Fighting HIV"

 

Da Pirate featured online:

Read:

 

Rescriptor TM video

 
Member of the National HIV Medicare/Medicaid Working Group
 
Member of the Wisconsin State Ryan White Consortium
 

Member of the Madison World AIDS Day Planning Committee

 

Guest speaker

 2001 Heterochat Summit
"Empowerment"
San Diego, California

 

FWA Winner of Best Speaking Panel

Human Sexuality
San Diego State University
2001

 

Los Angeles Times Magazine

June 20, 1993
Story: "Toxic Hope": The Story of AZT
Page 14
By Linda Marsa

 

Los Angeles Times

Westside Weekly October 24, 1999
"Miracles By The Mile"
by: Katrina Dean
Times Staff Writer

 

Los Angeles Times

Story for AIDS Walk Los Angeles
September 20, 1999

 

2 documentary films for USC students
Karin Elstad and Jamie Denenberg
Impact News Special on the National AIDS Marathon

 

Public service announcement for United Airlines and APLA

 
 
Mr. Bowers,

I am writing to express how deeply you touched me during your presentation. Your speech was the most passionate, interesting and encouraging I have ever heard. You taught us the importance of hope when you are diagnosed with a deadly virus like HIV. I can't tell you how much I respect and admire what you do to educate teens and adults about HIV and how it can ruin your life forever if you let it. Above all else, I respect what you go through each day to survive the the HIV virus and AIDS. Thanks again for your passion about what you do and for your caring about my generation. I will keep you, Michael, Richard, Eddie and Hilary in my prayers.

Sincerely,
Jim S

 

On April 12, 2008, Bob Bowers received the Elks Distinguished Citizen Award for outstanding service to humanity.

 

David Williams, Special Representative Grand Exalted Ruler, received this award from Don Jones on behalf of Bob Bowers at the Corvallis Elks Lodge #1413 installation of officers dinner.

 
You are a very great speaker. Mr. Bowers, you are a very wonderful, helpful and educated person and you made it even better because you know exactly what you were talking about because you have experienced it. You have made an impact on so many people's lives and on mine too. You are a hero to many people and you are a hero to me. I hope you keep speaking around the world and helping people with HIV/AIDS because they need you. Thank you for taking the time to talk to our class. Good luck!

Sincerely, Mckenzie S.
7th Grade-Marshall Middle School

 

skull with flames flaming skull pirate logo OTP www.onetoughpirate.com One Tough Pirate

 

Pirate clothing HIVictorious clothes support the fight against HIV AIDS
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NEW photos and video of Da Pirate speaking for AIDS Walk Wisconsin 2007
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Da Pirate's talk from AIDS Walk Wisconsin 2007

My name is Bob Bowers. I work on the front lines in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
With over two decades of surviving with this disease, it’s a great honor to be invited back to help kick off AIDS Walk Wisconsin 2007!

I remind myself and you, I am not a victim, I’m not an AIDS patient, I am a survivor! Give yourselves a huge round of applause for sharing in my brilliant and profound reality. Your compassion is without a doubt, our cure!

Wisconsin is a TERRIFIC state, is it not!? With your support, Wisconsin remains TOPS in the Nation in caring for those of us infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. In 2006, Wisconsin had NO babies born infected with HIV. This is an absolute victory! Recalling a time when we had absolutely no medications to treat HIV, we now have over two dozen available medications and many more in the pipeline. Our compassionate and willful lawmakers stand with us in the fight against AIDS. ARCW diligently ensures those of us living with HIV/AIDS have access to care and services. Through their compassion, we are able to live with dignity and quality. Thank you ARCW! My Camp Heartland family provides a profound and enduring impact in the lives of countless thousands of children who were born into this very adult disease. Thank you Neil! THANK YOU to all of our state agencies, organizations, individuals andaids walk wisconsin bob bowers speaking supporters, who remain steadfast in this fight!

However, HIV/AIDS remains a medical and social crisis of global proportions! On 9-11, four jets crashed leaving NO survivors. Our nation declared a full out war costing us countless billions. In 2006 alone, roughly 3 million of our brothers and sisters lost their lives to AIDS. That is the equivalent of TWENTY fully loaded jumbo jets crashing daily for A YEAR, with NO survivors and NO war. Rather we refer to such utter carnage as a cause. I despise surrendering to AIDS as a ‘cause.’ It’s a passionate and intensely personal FIGHT! We must put saving human lives first and declare a full out WAR on the greatest scourge we’ve ever known! We must muster the political and collective will to once and for all, END AIDS. There is no time to relent in this fight! We must continue advocating for the empowerment of women and for our brothers and sisters of color. We must continually address issues of homophobia, mental health poverty and addiction! We must ensure that ALL persons living with HIV/AIDS are treated with dignity and have access to care and treatment!

Thank you for joining us in the fight! In closing; in the words of my dear friend, the late Mike McKinney, “You my dear friends are the true HEROES and SHEROES in the fight against AIDS.” Step by step, there is no doubt we are making a profound and lasting impact! Please walk with renewed hope, strength and pride! Walk with love in your hearts as you reflect and honor the over 25 million lives lost to AIDS. My friends, never ever surrender and never ever forget!

Namaste you fearless warriors!
 
 
The Fire Within-Feature Length HIV/AIDS Documentary-Bob Bowers

View the film trailer to the
feature length documentary

"The Fire Within"

 
 
 
The Fire Within HIV/AIDS feature length documentary featuring Bob Bowers

 

 

One Tough Pirate Da Pirate www.onetoughpirate.com Bob Bowers

 

Bob,
Hi, my name is Cassie from Parkview High. Thank you for educating me on things that I would of never really cared about. You have taught me just how to live and how to be helpful to others. My favorite part was being able to ask you questions that will be helpful in life. I plan on helping out with the ACT Ride.
You are such an inspiration to me, thank you.

 

Da Pirate meeting with the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin's Executive Director, Doug Nelson
Thank you for your support Doug!

 

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    Dear Mr. Bowers,

I truly admire your courage to tell your story. You told us what the facts were and unlike many people in our society today you didn't say "Don't do it" you just told us to be smart about it. I don't think there was even a sentence that could describe the feeling I had during your talk. I thought you were a very strong person. I don't think I would have been able to get up and talk to 200 students, let alone survive for 23 years. You have learned to cherish everything and take nothing for granted. Everything that came out of your mouth was inspirational and meaningful. You truly touched me. If people had one tenth of the strength and ambition you have I know our world would be a better place. I wish you would have been able to stay with us long because it was such a moving discussion.

Stay Strong,
Carrie Beth

 

My heartfelt thanks to the staff and Board of Directors at AIDS Network and to the
community of Madison for these most prestigious awards!

 
Dear Bob,
 
Your accomplishments and ongoing work with HIVictorious is truly stunning.  What that really translates into is that your life Bob is stunning----huge mountainous challenges---peaks, valleys, highs, lows, rollercoasters, health concerns, spirit issues...all HUGE, but also enormous contributions to so many and you and I both know that you always, always receive more than you give----so I can only imagine the Love that comes your way from all of us whom you touch by your life, by being YOU.
 
You're a big spirit and we need more people like you in this world.
 
Just had to tell you I'm so thankful to know you.
Love, Mark
 

 

Bob,

As I told you when I came up and talked to you after your speaking for our class, we are so blessed to have you come, as is the world to still have you be a part of it. I can not tell you how much I was not only moved by your coming, but also so drastically inspired to really live for today. I know that I have only met you for a brief moment in time, but I truly (not to sound too weird) cherish that time. I feel lucky to have met you, and I hope that in time we can become friends. I commend you and believe in you. Hope that we can keep in touch.

Sincerely,
Scott S.

 
 
 

On The 25th Anniversary of AIDS

I have survived living with HIV/AIDS for over two decades. I feel so very blessed and grateful to be alive. I guess it is true, “that which does not kill you, makes you stronger.” I did not get here unaided. I’m deeply indebted to the brave souls
who have gone before me. The horror, devastation and undeniable loss that we witnessed through the 1980’s and early 1990’s are a painful cross to bear for many. After the loss of dozens of friends, my life’s work is to advocate for my peers, and educate about the realities of this scourge we call AIDS. I do this in honor of many. The rights, medications and services that were put into place through the blood, sweat and tears of our loved ones throughout the 80’s and 90’s continue to be politicized and strained. Also, combination therapy has spawned a great deal of complacency and apathy. One doesn’t have to look far to see the ongoing desolation in the new millennium. Shame, ignorance, stigma and homophobia abound. Where are the unity, heart, conviction and tenacity? Are we so afraid to stand up to those in power? Have we sold out to financial gain and politics? The time has come to end the corporate, pharmaceutical and political strangle-hold on HIV/AIDS. We need to replace lip service and status quo with harsh talk and realities. There are countless precious human lives at stake here and across our globe. Can we not place our egos, opinions and paychecks aside and fight united and strong for a world free from this dreadful pandemic called AIDS? We have industrialized and dehumanized a very human virus. I can only pray that we continue to collectively muster the courage and heart needed in what is indeed a bittersweet milestone in our fight.

Bob Bowers
Madison, Wisconsin
June, 2006

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