Celebrity Signed T-Shirt And Art Auction to Raise Money for HIV Organisations

An auction of t-shirts signed by New Zealand and International celebrities and artworks by noted artists including Dick Frizzell is to be held November 22nd to raise funds for Positive Women, Body Positive Inc and INA, the Maori Indigenous & South Pacific HIV Foundation.

Most people think that because of education and awareness the spread of HIV is not as prolific as it used to be. Unfortunately the opposite is true – with more people were diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand in 2016 than since records began in 1985.

“HIV doesn’t discriminate,” says Lyn Parent. “It can affect anyone and it does.” Parent should know; she was infected by getting a tattoo on London’s Portobello Rd in 1992 and given six months to live.

Thanks to advances in treatment she remains in good health 25 years later, throwing her support behind various ventures to support organisations caring for all people living with HIV in New Zealand.

“The auction is about more than simply educating and raising awareness and funds for a cause,” says Parent. “It aims to help people living with HIV in a broad range of communities and orientations across New Zealand,” she says.

Fashionistas may be interested in the garments signed by Marilyn Sainty, Patrick Steel, Helen Cherry and a Gubb & Mackie tee with a controversial caption by WORLD designer Francis Hooper scrawled across it.

There is even a tee signed by the late Charlotte Dawson and signatures from international celebrities like Ke$ha, Eddie Izzard and entrepreneur businessman Richard Branson.

Offering artworks for sale are Frizzell, Sabine Poppe, Vicki Fanning, Greer Twiss and Mike Petre.

Parent will also be present at a free Body Positive Rapid Testing event in Auckland’s Freyberg Place in Auckland’s CBD, offering snacks and lipstick application by MAC for those having themselves confidentially tested for HIV on 1 December, World AIDS Day.

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