HIVictorious, Inc. formed a team in February of 2008 to support our dear friends at Camp Heartland. Seven of us took the challenge head on to dance for twelve hours for Dance Your Heart Out. The dance marathon took place in The Mall of America in Minnesota. We set a team goal of $1,000.00 and were elated to have surpassed our expectations. THANK YOU to all of our amazing families and friends who gave so generously in support of our team effort. We boogied our asses off (not all of it was real pretty) from start to finish! Each hour of the dance brought a new theme. I had the distinct honor to speak during "Talk Like a Pirate Day/September" theme. Go figure...So, I took it upon myself to contact the ultimate Pirates, me hearties from International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Cap'n Slappy and Ol' Chumbucket. Cap'n Slappy a.k.a. Mark Summers, wrote an incredibly heartfelt letter to all of those in attendance. You can read what he wrote by scrolling down. It was an absolute honor to relay the lessons in Pirattitude to the crowd of Pirates and Landlubbers alike. We were reunited with many Campers and staff and kept each other going with great humor and inspiration. It was incredible beyond words to see paper money flying over the rails from the floors above us. (Thank God they didn't toss coins!) The onlookers from the Mall literally started throwing thousands of dollars onto the dance floor in support of Camp Heartland. Camp Heartland is so dear to my heart. I'm honored to call them my friends and family. Since 1993, they have provided hope, love and life skills to children who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Jonathan Bennet and friends hosted the event and brought levity and heart to the dance. I too tossed in some Pirattitude from time to time to keep the masses moving. Our dear friend Kimberley Locke thrilled the dancers and crowd with her awe-inspiring voice. It truly was an experience that all of us absolutely cherished. It was worth every ounce of pain and fatigue that transpired. It was a good reminder that no matter how tiring or painful at times, we must NEVER relent in the FIGHT against HIV/AIDS!

FIGHT ON!
Bob Bowers
A.k.a. Da Pirate