Londoner Shaun Mellors ran the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of Tackle HIV with the hope of breaking down the stigma surrounding the virus.

In partnership with ViiV Healthcare and the Terrence Higgins Trust, Tackle HIV took to the street of Cardiff to raise money and educate the public.

Over 20 supporters and campaigners, many of whom are HIV positive themselves, ran the 13.2 miles in the Welsh capital with Mellors running for his own story.

“I ran with the Tackle HIV team because I feel very strongly that we have to tackle the HIV stigma," said the 57-year-old, who is originally from South Africa.

“Tackle HIV is a cause close to my heart. They’ve been around for around three years and I’ve been involved with them for a long time.

“I come from South Africa and was diagnosed in 1986 and been working in HIV ever since.

“I’ve been working in HIV charities and the sector since then.”

Mellors has now worked with ViiV Healthcare for three years and continues to champion the work of the company and is passionate about dispelling any misconceptions about the virus he has lived such a healthy and long life with.

He said: “HIV stigma is incredible insidious, and it causes people not to be able to disclose their status and to hide away.

“It also stops people from being able to access their services and the support that they need.

“Hopefully this can be an example to other people that living with HIV is manageable and if you take your medication you can live for a very long time and have a great life.”

The Tackle HIV Myth Bus Tour which launched at the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 2 and is visiting Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and London to offer educational information on HIV as well as encouraging and offering testing advice, information and test kits to the public.

Stigma where people living with HIV are judged negatively by others can often lead to a reluctance to test, with a Tackle HIV – a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and the Terrence Higgins Trust – survey showing only 45% of people would consider taking a test.

And with powerful voices such as Thomas heading the campaign, Mellors is ready for a future of acceptance.

He said: “I think our company's motto is to ‘leave no person living with HIV behind’ so there’s a great level of commitment to the company and what it is that we are doing.

“Gareth is another person living with HIV who’s a powerful voice to bring to Tackle HIV and in fighting the stigma.”

Tackle HIV, a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and the Terrence Higgins Trust, aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. Visit www.tacklehiv.org and follow @tacklehiv