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There are 33
million people in the World
living with HIV. There are over a
million
people living with HIV in the United
States. 28 years of AIDS and over 25 million
deaths from HIV/AIDS is enough! Thanks
for doing your part! |
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Hi
Pirate, I have been to your
site and was just amazed.
I saw this man who could
of taken HIV and let it
ruin his life. Instead you
have become a role model
and a spokesperson to bring
awareness to everyone. I
think that takes a lot of
courage. You didn't let
HIV beat you. You are kicking
it's ass instead. I truly
admire the work you do.
Keep on kicking ass.
Thanks again! ~Jackie
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Congrats on truly
living your life. Most humans with out a disease are not in the moment! You on
the other hand are doing what we were made to do...Simply go with the flow of
our life! No matter what happens or how we feel, all we can do is try. That's
it. You know I'm a fighter; we sponsor many UFC fighters who I know very well. You're
tougher than all of them put together! Straight up! Keep going. Just keep going. If
there ever comes a time when you feel scared, relax; always remember none of us
ever asked to be born. Not I or you or anyone. We were all chosen. That means
what ever happens in our life is always a part of what's been chosen even if we
are the sum of our choices. The fact that we have been chosen means all of our
choices are for the life that lives including our own. The only thing we leave
behind is our influences, our character, our actions that affected those lives
around us. At the end of the day what else matters? I can only hope to touch,
help and educate as many people as you have my friend. Everyone has a life time
that is ticking, everyone. The best way that we can show our appreciation for
our life is by the way we treat each other. In my opinion you are doing what
most humans in the world are not. I respect you more than you really know man.
Take care Brother and keep checkin in with me as I will do the same.
Best Wishes,
Steve Scordel
LEARN, LAUGH, LOVE, LIVE. |
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Da Pirate returns to Camp
Heartland in Malibu,
California |
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Blessings to you Bob, thanks for teaching my children, you're a good pirate! :)
~ Mary |
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Yer a strong one. Gonna be a grumpy ol' 120 year old pirate.
~ Ashley |
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You are an inspiration and a ray of sunshine for the thousands of people who are alone and have given up hope.....Thank you!
~ Lynn |
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Your
courage in
the face of
this
adversity is
truly
inspirational,
and bleeds
out far
beyond the
boundaries
of the
burden that
you bear.
When we, the
people,
stand
united, with
God on our
side, there
is no
darkness we
cannot
ignite, and
no demon we
can't slay.
Here's to
you my
friend...a
Lion among
men!
~Roberto |
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Photo of
AIDS
activists
Bob and
Teresa
Bowers at
ACT UP
Wisconsin's
demonstration
at the
Department
of Health
Services in
Madison |
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Thanks
for visiting Da Pirate's photo page! |
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Never
surrender my friend. Yip Mann once said "Martial Arts is more than a system of
fighting, it is a system of thought because some of your opponents will be More
than Men. We all have demons to fight. We call these demons Anger, Hatred and
Fear. If we do not conquer them a Life of a Thousand Years can be a Tragedy, but
if we do a Life of a Single Day can be a Triumph." Thank you for your friendship
and never stop the fight.
~David |
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You
my
friend -
are a
force of
power...a
raw
visceral
nerve -
of
beauty...defined
by
intelligence
and most
of all
heart..."
My Love
to You,
~KimThank you Bob for all you do. YOU are an amazing man and I hope someday to meet you in person...your energy is boundless and let me know if there is anything I can do... Bless you!!!
~Keith
Bob,
I wanted to say thank you for everything you do to champion the cause. You are an inspiration to anyone that meets you.
~Del |
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Bob, I just love how
you came, and by the looks of it, conquered the school in more ways than one.
:-) Your shocking, yet down-to-earth way of
presenting really hit home. You have
made a lasting impression, and have encouraged several to join you in your
fight
in HIV awareness and education. Thank you for opening yourself to our students
and staff. Oh, and Teresa is a gem, but of course, you already knew that.
~ Amy |
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Full
sleeve
tattoos
at last! |
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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 LA, you are amazing. More than that, you are a beacon of hope that 20+ years is possible. Keep up the good work.
Yours in fight,
David H
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Check out Da Pirate on
YouTube!
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Feel free to
copy and
paste the
below code
to place our
banner on
your
MySpace,
Blog,
website etc.
I sincerely
appreciate
your
friendship
and support!
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Dearest
Bob, I just wanted to let you know how honored
I am to have met you, and am continually inspired,
with every moment, by your strength, passion, sincerity,
kindness, and positive outlook on all things. For
living your truth, with compassion, and a raised
fist. You're amazing....
Namaste my dear friend, ~ Vicki |
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Youth HIV/AIDS educator
Bob Bowers with
students from Evansville
High School in
Evansville, Wisconsin |
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I just wanted to
let you know you are an
amazing person! my true
hero and I look up to
you so much!
Keep it real man and
spread the awareness!
~Sara |
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Youth HIV/AIDS educators Bob Bowers,
Rebekka Armstrong, Rey
Cordova and Kalee
Garland, with
students from
Linn Benton Community
College in Albany,
Oregon. OTP and
HIVictorious are deeply
grateful to LBCC for
their support and
generosity! |
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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 |
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Bob
Bowers and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz with Dab the
AIDS Bear-Edgewood High School |
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Visit our amazing
friend, activist, advocate and fellow survivor, Dab Garner
www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com |
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I
just took a look at your site, it's
amazing! The material is very
stylish and creative, but the spirit
is much more beautiful. I just don't
know what to say other than thank
you! Hope I could give a hand some
day...U r an angel, do u know that?!
Vu |
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Bob,
You amaze me on a daily basis, you
are awesome! This world needs more
people like you. Thanks for all you
do my friend.
~Haydee |
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Youth HIV/AIDS prevention through education in
schools...
Bob Bowers a.k.a.
Da Pirate with some awesome students from his
presentation at East High School
in Madison, Wisconsin.
Click here to see more presentation photos on www.hivictorious.org
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Bob
Bowers'
story humanized
HIV for me. At first, it was uncomfortable
to listen to someone talk about something
so scary and personal, but eventually it became
easier to accept what he was saying. His story covered
everything: how he contracted it, what he had to
deal with every day of his life, and all the little
details that help him through it.
Mr. Bowers' story gives me hope for all people
with such diseases, and I have immense respect for
his bravery in talking to us. The presentation was
very informative. Although sad,
Bob Bowers' story is powerful and should be
heard by everyone.
~ Charlotte |
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Bob,
I respect what you do and would back you in
almost anything Bro. You at times have more guts
then I do. It takes both of us courage to stand
up to the world and share what we live with and
not hide it. We are beating the Stigma a few
people at a time. We are just the same as
everyone else, we just get sicker more and need
a few more naps.
Peace,
Howard |
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Photo of Da Pirate's phoenix tattoo and full sleeves tattoos-Click
here to view more of Da Pirate's tattoos photos |
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Congratulations to
Elizabeth Grams and Rewais Hanna for their winning
HIV/AIDS awareness posters! |
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Photo of youth HIV/AIDS
educator Bob Bowers with the top 12 entrants from Edgewood High
School who entered our youth HIV/AIDS
poster contest.
CONGRATULATIONS to ALL! You did an incredible job with your
awareness posters! |
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HIV positive speaker
and
AIDS activist Bob
Bowers, One Tough Pirate,
also known simply as
"Da
Pirate,"
has been
living with
and surviving
HIV/AIDS for 26
years.
Bob
started as a
youth HIV/AIDS
educator
with
peer education
programs in Los
Angeles shortly
after his diagnosis.
To broaden his
personal message of
prevention through
education,
hope and
awareness of the
disease,
Bob founded the
nonprofit
HIV/AIDS educational
organization,
HIVictorious, Inc.
in 2005.
HIVictorious
addresses
youth HIV/AIDS
education and
prevention
and provides
AIDS awareness in
Madison, Wisconsin
and throughout the
United States
through Bob's public
speaking and it's
AIDS awareness
poster contest,
"What
if it Were You?"
Mr. Bowers
long-term survivor
of HIV/AIDS,
and someone who has
lost dozen of
friends to AIDS,
Bob is
wholeheartedly
committed to
educating today's
youth and young
adults,
about the realities
of
HIV/AIDS
as well as
living with AIDS
long-term.
Mr. Bowers
is a champion for
hope and survival
despite some of the
difficult
circumstances that
we ALL face in life. |
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"Compassion is our cure."
~Bob Bowers
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Copyright © 2000-2010
www.onetoughpirate.com One Tough
Pirate Productions (OTP)
Madison, Wisconsin All rights reserved |
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