Garry Brough’s journey with HIV is not just a story of survival—it is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to find purpose in adversity. Diagnosed in 1991 at just 23 years old, he was told that he had five years to live. At a time when HIV was a death sentence for many, Garry faced the darkest realities of the virus head-on. With unwavering support from his friends and family, he vowed to defy the odds. But despite adopting a healthy lifestyle, his immune system continued to deteriorate. In 1995, he was diagnosed with AIDS, with visible symptoms like Kaposi’s Sarcoma marking the seriousness of his condition.

Then, in 1996, everything changed. New antiretroviral treatments gave Garry a second chance at life, and from that moment, he knew his journey was about more than just surviving—it was about creating a space where others living with HIV could not just survive but truly live. Peer support had been his anchor, offering a sense of community and understanding when he needed it most. This experience transformed his purpose, leading him to become a passionate advocate for ensuring that no one diagnosed with HIV should face it alone.

In 1999, Garry co-founded the Bloomsbury Network, a pioneering patient-led group that reshaped HIV care by integrating peer support into clinical settings. He was the UK’s first paid HIV Patient Representative. This role allowed him to meet newly diagnosed individuals at their most vulnerable moments, offering them hope and connection in a non-judgmental environment. Garry’s work expanded from local clinics to national organisations, including the Terrence Higgins Trust and Positively UK, where he developed and delivered a national online support network and a training programme for a thousand HIV peer mentors.

Now, as a Programme Manager for London’s Fast-Track Cities initiative, Garry spearheads efforts to eliminate HIV stigma and ensure comprehensive peer support in every HIV clinic across the city. His leadership in expanding in-clinic peer support while linking people to voluntary sector support to address unmet psychosocial needs is breaking new ground in creating person-centred care which reduces health inequalities. His focus is not only to support people to live well with HIV but also to transform how society views and supports people living with HIV, tackling the stigma that still clings to the diagnosis.

At the core of Garry’s work is a deeply personal mission: to ensure that people living with HIV can access the same hope, community, and empowerment that saved and shaped his own life. His story is one of remarkable resilience and leadership, and his legacy is defined by the lives he continues to touch, lifting them from isolation into a future full of possibility.