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
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!
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. CLICK
HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS
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.
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
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!
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 and
supporters, who remain steadfast
in this fight!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
supporters, who remain steadfast
in this 
