"If
there were
such a thing
as a force
of destiny
in our lives,
I would
say that
Bob
Bowers
was born
for this
role; no
one has
carried
this difficult
mantle with
more dignity,
conviction,
purpose,
and compassion."
~Madeleine
Schwab
Cross Roads
High School
Santa Monica,
California
AIDS activist, Youth HIV/AIDS educator and long-term HIV/AIDS survivor
- Bob Bowers'
www.onetoughpirate.com
Bob, there are very few people I admire but you are one of them. Continue your good work and NEVER SURRENDER! AAAAARRRGH!!!!!
~Pete
HIVictorious (our nonprofit) is honored to be a benefiting agency
again for AIDS Walk Wisconsin. Please support our team by making a donation of
any amount. We also welcome you to join our team. Thanks in advance for your support of ARCW and
HIVictorious!
I can truly say when I read Your page it gives me Hope, And makes me feel great knowing that there is a HERO named Bob Bowers out there fighting for everyone...God Bless You Bob
~ Fred
I'd like to extend
my sincere and
heartfelt thanks for
your compassion,
love, support, and
for taking the time
to visit my personal
website! I sincerely
hope that you enjoy
your time spent
here. OTP has been
in existence for
over nine years.
This site pays
homage to hope,
survival and to the
over 25 million of
our courageous
brothers and
sisters, that were
taken from us far
too early in life.
My wish is that it
also lends hope and
understanding to
those who pass upon
these pages. No
matter what
obstacles we may
face in life, I
truly believe that
where there is a
will, there is a
way. May this site
be a reminder to us
all, myself
included, that we
are indeed one. May
we remember that
life is precious and
a wondrous passage
worthy of giving it
our all. I have
survived living with
HIV/AIDS for a
quarter of a century
and have dedicated
my life to educating
and empowering youth
and others about
this dreadful
scourge we call
AIDS. I am truly
blessed to be alive.
I despise the stigma
that continues to
drive the AIDS
epidemic. Through my
advocacy and activism, I work
diligently to
address the core
issues of poverty,
racism, homophobia,
women's rights,
domestic violence,
homelessness,
addiction etc.
Regardless of
HIV/AIDS, it is
vital that we not
turn on backs on
those who need our
love and support. In
2006 I created our
youth AIDS awareness poster contest,
to pose the simple
and profound
question, "What
if it Were You?"
I fight equally to
be a voice of hope,
knowing that we all
have obstacles to
overcome. I've come
to realize that
good, bad or ugly,
life is truly a
blessing. Throughout
these many years of
being a long-term
survivor of AIDS, an
AIDS activist, and
through my advocacy
as a youth HIV/AIDS
educator, I have had
the privilege and
honor to speak to
countless thousands
of students and
adults alike about
life and living life
with HIV/AIDS,
neither of which are
easy. Without a
doubt, education and
awareness remain
vital in helping to
stop the spread of
HIV. I hope that
through my speaking,
or in my day to day
interactions, that
I've helped empower
others to live life
to the fullest as
you have helped me!
I give endless
thanks and praise to
you, my family,
friends and those
individuals who have
blessed my voyage to
this point in life.
I say without a
doubt, "I did not
get here alone!"
Your involvement in
my life and/or words
of love and
encouragement, are
forever embedded in
my heart, soul,
mission and on the
many pages
throughout this
website! Once again,
welcome.
Compassion
is our cure!
™
Namaste,
Bob Bowers
Aka -
Da Pirate
THE
DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL®
SLATES EXCLUSIVE NETWORK
PREMIERE OF POWERFUL AND
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
“THE FIRE WITHIN,” AN
EYE-OPENING LOOK ABOUT
SURVIVING AIDS
Premiered June 6,
2010 - Airs next on
August 31,
2010
There are no words to describe the impact that Bob Bowers has had on my students and me. He is a very courageous man with an extremely powerful life or death message. I have invited him to come and talk to our freshman class for the past two years and will continue to have him back in the future. I could easily go on and on about the importance of having a person of his caliber come and talk to your school or group, however I feel hearing it from the students makes it more relevant. After his presentation, the students are asked to write a reflection on what they thought of Bob’s message.
Here is what some of them said:
“Bob was an amazing speaker. He is doing one of the greatest things possible. He is sharing a story to help fight a pandemic. He made me not only realize to be a fighter for my own battles, but to use my own struggles and experiences to help others.”
“His story not only informed me on what the effects of HIV/AIDS can do to a person physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. His speech was enlightening and it showed me the importance of keeping the quality of life as high as possible in addition to informing me about HIV/AIDS and other STIs.”
“I was very inspired by Bob Bowers and what he has gone through. I thought he was a great speaker and really connected on every human level. He was not just giving facts but really how it changes every aspect of your life when you get HIV. “
“He wasn’t just informative, he was real. He was very straightforward with the information and his problem. He didn’t sugarcoat anything. It was refreshing that he didn’t try to hide his emotions in front of the group. This was probably one of the best presentations I have seen.”
As you can tell from the statements above, Bob has left lasting impressions on my students. He has multiplied the value of our unit on HIV/AIDS by sharing his personal experiences in a way that reaches each and EVERY student. As Bob states, he is a man with a gift to share, and it is my hope that all people will continue to allow Bob to share his gift. It is with great respect and honor that I recommend Bob Bowers as one of the top educators for HIV/AIDS.
Respectfully,
Mekel Wiederholt Meier
Edgewood High School
Madison, Wisconsin
Much love to you from the Teen AIDS Task Force peer educators and coordinator in Northern NY... It's nice to be reminded that there are other "HIV Warriors" out there fighting the fight with us - even if we don't see them...
Another
AMAZING
picture of
my friend
bringing his
experience,
strength and
hope to what
appears as a
very
attentive
classroom
full of
youth. They
will never
forget the
day they met
the "Pirate"
and the day
they
received
information
that can
protect
themselves
and others
against STDs
& HIV.
Friend, you
are a
teacher of
life.
~ Brett
That's
right Bob
give illness
the finger
cause it
ain't gunna
keep an ass
kicker like
you down! Be
strong bro!
~ Rob
Click here
to view
Bob's entire
presentation
on HIV/AIDS
at Madison
College
Our
friend Bob
Bowers is
doing a LOT
to spread
the
awareness of
HIV/AIDS!
He's a
friend to
the
community
and a friend
to MATC.
Please do
your part to
help his
endless
efforts and
show your
support for
such a
strong and
inspiring
individual!
~Clare
There is no
chance, no
destiny, no
fate, that can
hinder or
control the firm
resolve of a
determined
soul...
--Ella Wheeler
Wilcox
For more than a year and a half
many of us have questioned the
veracity of AIDS Network’s
boisterous claims that the ACT
Ride returns 87% – 90% of its
donations to support AIDS
Network client and prevention
services. Last year they
proclaimed it loud and clear in
their marketing of the Ride.
Here is
their precise statement, as well
as the facts...
AIDS activists
Bob Bowers and
friends from ACT
UP Wisconsin
protesting in
front of the
Wisconsin
Department of
Health Services
building
in Madison,
Wisconsin. We
demand that the
disparity of
service in our
state ENDS!
I didn’t
choose to be
part of ACT UP
Wisconsin, it
chose me.
Earlier this
year, I helped
to set in motion
the formation of
our chapter. I
am tremendously
honored and
proud to be a
founding member
of this group of
dedicated,
educated, caring
and passionate
individuals.
ACT UP Wisconsin
had been long in
coming, and in
my humble
opinion, was far
overdue! It took
the fearlessness
and commitment
of caring and
affected people,
like myself to
say, enough is
enough – we
demand change –
real change!
My decision
came, thanks in
part to the
overwhelming
wealth of
information and
facts that
Greg Milward
and others had
made me aware
of. Mind you, I
knew of and had
experienced
first-hand much
of what they so
matter-of-factly
made me and have
now made our
community aware
of - I had
finally had
enough!
More than ever
before, the
phrase,
“Knowledge is
power”,
resonated within
me. I stood at a
great crossroads
- turn a
blind-eye,
diminish the
issues, and be
part of the
problem - or
take the road
less travelled
by speaking
truth to power
and attempting
to be part of
the solution in
creating
affirmative
change in
Wisconsin and
beyond.
As someone who
had served on
Wisconsin’s Ryan
White Consortium
for a number of
years, served as
a member of the
AIDS Treatment
Activists
Coalition,
served as our
state’s
organizer for
the Campaign to
END AIDS (C2EA);
I was even more
empowered and
deeply appalled
by the rhetoric,
apathy and
status quo in
the fight
against AIDS.
It was during my
involvement with
C2EA that I
first learned
the expression,
“AIDS Inc;” an
idiom that has
taken my
involvement in
the fight to a
higher level.
Since when does
fundraising and
more
fundraising,
putting on a
good face, and
survival at any
cost, trump the
true fight
against AIDS? We
are only in this
“business of
AIDS” - to be
out of business.
As a person
living with the
disease, I have
found the
HIV/AIDS
community in
Madison to be
more of a social
network than a
community that
is outraged by
the current
state of affairs
we are all faced
with. Despite
this, I care
deeply for many
within this
social network.
However, it
doesn’t mean I
have to sit back
idly as AIDS
Inc. runs amuck.
As a result of
my association
with ACT UP
Wisconsin, I
have learned who
my real friends
are.
I am troubled by
the lack of
aggressive
prevention and
awareness
campaigns in
Madison. I
am saddened by
the gross
disparity of
services that
exists in our
state. I am
outraged by the
indifference our
state AIDS/HIV
division, as
well as some of
our lawmakers
and media, have
shown towards
our stance. I
commend those
who have chosen
to put their
egos aside and
to comprehend
the bigger
picture. I will
not be silenced
in my efforts to
impress upon
them their
responsibility
for this demise
and the need for
impartiality
when dealing
with
HIV/AIDS in
our state.
I didn’t choose
to be an AIDS
activist. As a
26-year survivor
and someone who
has lost dozens
of dear friends
to AIDS, it is
more-so my
God-given
responsibility.
My duty is to
not only share
my overwhelming
gratitude, which
I do freely and
abundantly, but
also to be
willing to take
an unfavorable
stance when
needed – this is
one of those
times in my long
and wondrous
journey with
AIDS.
You are amazing! I am proud to call you my friend.
Knowing people like you make me a better person. No
matter what happens, you stood up for what you believe
in respectfully and that needs to be respected.
~Rebecca
Stop the
stigmatizing of the
HIV/AIDS community
in Madison and
beyond!
SILENCE = DEATH
An informative and
detailed site about the disparity of services in the Southern
Wisconsin Region
"HIV/AIDS
activists
clash
over
unspecified
funding,
limited
services
offered"
ACT
UP
frustrated
over
lack
of
communication
with
AIDS
Network
Board
of
Directors
Thanks so much
for doing what
you do. VERY
important. I
think many
people feel they
don't know
anyone who has
HIV/AIDS. I'm
guessing many
people actually
DO know someone
affected by
it... they just
don't know that
they know
someone. People
are so scared
still that it's
not typically
talked about
openly. It needs
to be talked
about. I have a
friend who's
been living with
AIDS for over a
decade now.
He'll tell
anyone who asks,
he doesn't lie
about it, but he
doesn't
necessarily
advertise it
either. Too much
stigma, too much
at risk for him
to lose. Things
must change.
Thank you so
much for your
site and for
doing what you
do. It's so
important to
educate the
public. You're
awesome!
Best wishes to
you,
Kristina
AIDS activists
Bob and Teresa Bowers
with friends
from ACT UP
Wisconsin
demonstrating in
front of AIDS
Network
in
Madison,
Wisconsin. We
have been
silenced long
enough and WE
DEMAND CHANGE!
Some people think that a
hero is someone like a
firefighter, soldier or
a sports star. Someone
who is brave,
honest and invincible.
After listening to you
speak the other day, I
would say the true hero
is you. You are
brave because you can
say what you feel and
express your emotions in
front of 100's of
people. Living with AIDS
for 23 years makes you
invincible and for that,
I give you my utmost
respect and thanks. I
never thought that
someone could change my
outlook of life in just
one hour. Out of all the
lectures and speeches
I've listened to in my
life, yours was by far
the best. You give
people a glimpse into
the real world of a
person living with AIDS
and you definitely got
through to us. You break
the stereotypical image
of a person with AIDS.
You didn't want to tell
us what to do, which
made us instantly like
you. Someone who has the
ability to make a group
of people laugh, cry,
and think, has an
amazing talent. I wish I
knew the words to say
how much I appreciate
you coming to to speak.
I wish you the best of
luck on the rest of your
journey through life. If
I could achieve just a
fraction of what you
have done in my life, I
could die happy. But for
now, we both know who
the hero is.
Love,
Bailey S.
"What if it
Were You?"
is a youth
HIV/AIDS
poster
contest
to raise
everyday
awareness of
the disease
in Madison,
Wisconsin.
Mayor Dave
Cieslewicz
honored
winning
entrant,
Lizzie
Grams, from
Edgewood
High School
for her
outstanding
efforts
All
I can say is WOW!! You
have definitely
impressed me. I know the
world needs more
compassionate people
like yourself. There is
a quote from a spiritual
leader Moses Brings
Plenty of the Lakota
Nation. "This world is
filled humans, but there
are only a handful of
human beings." You are
truly a human being.
Bob,
I watched your
documentary on t.v.
today and never realized
just how much HIV and
the medications can have
on a person nor their
family. You are awesome
and a hero to me! After
viewing your
documentary, I realized
I have NOTHING to
complain about or even
feel sorry for my own
self. You rock and I
admire everything about
you!!
I just want you to know
that YOU inspired me!!
=)
Angela
My
husband and I watched 'The
Fire Within' last
night. It was so
powerful and heartfelt.
You are an amazing
spirit Bob. You are a
brave 'WARRIOR' and you
put up a good
fight against HIV/AIDS.
I hope you are doing
well today! It's a day
at a time. I thank you
for the work you are
doing and the hope you
instill.
Peace, Good Health and
Many, Many Blessings
friend,
~Nancy~
This
movie was a real life
view into what a person,
with HIV, and those
closest to them, go
through daily. The
mental and physical toll
in the process of
fighting this disease
can be difficult in many
ways. It is a story
which is important
because there are so
many good people out
there struggling to
maintain their dignity
and quality of life.
Some people isolate
themselves and feel
quite alone. The best
thing about this film is
that it shows those
people they are not
alone, and that they can
have pride in their
fight against this
disease.
Bob,
I was just on your
website and I must say I
loved it. You are a real
inspiration to people
with or with out
HIV/AIDS. I commend you
for all you do.
~Liz
Rewais Hanna from Edgewood High School is honored by
Wisconsin's Governor, Jim Doyle
THANK YOU, Governor Doyle for your commitment to
the FIGHT against
AIDS in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Governor,
Jim Doyle, honors Rewais Hanna from Edgewood High School in Madison,
Wisconsin. Rewais placed second in the latest round of our
youth HIV/AIDS poster contest. To learn more about our efforts,
please visit:
Yo
keep up the great work
wish u the best. you are
a huge force almost
unreal and inspire all
those people that need
help. u need to be
recognized more
worldwide if possible.
with more people like
you the world would be
better place-cya
~Amyr
Thank
you. You have done an
amazing job of of
turning lemons into
lemonade. U have taken
ur mistakes and
misfortune and accepted
it and used your
experiences to educate
our generation to ensure
that we r not faced with
the same difficulties
that u did. So I just
wanted to say thank you.
U gave an engaging and
informational life
lesson that I will never
forget.
Your
ink is AMAZING! You are truly an inspiration, and I
applaud all your energy and effort you have dedicated to
such a worthy cause!
~Steven
The
world needs more people like you Bob. Your
an inspiration to many and that includes me!
Thank you!
~Viola
Thank
you Bob, but I think I am the blessed one to
see such a wonderful person committed like
you are and so positive and loving:) God's
many blessing to you
~Carolyn
The
world needs more people like you Bob. You're
an inspiration to many.
~Daniel
I
tripped over your website and found it
inspiring and your
tattoos cool as hell. Keep doing what
you're doing man, you're making the world a
better place."
All proceeds go directly
to support
HIVictorious'
education and outreach
Thanks
again for
coming to
our school
and talking
to us.
your a
really great
speaker and
I told Mrs.
Puls to have
you come
back because
our time got
cut short.
So hopefully
you come
back to our
school :)
~ Kayla
You
are an inspiration to so
many... Keep on keeping
on!!!
NEVER EVER SURRENDER!
I can think of few who should be honored in such a way. You inspire SO many. Whether it's Camp Heartland, the ACT Rides, a rally in Texas, or an informational session in Los Angeles, you are amazing. More than that, you are a beacon of hope that 20+ years is possible. Keep up the good work.
