Alumnus speaks to raise AIDS awareness

Janis Holcombe / contributing photographer Ben Bank ('02) encourages students to protect themselves against HIV.

A JMU alumnus told the story of his life with HIV as part of a week of events hosted by JMU and the Valley AIDS Network to raise awareness about AIDS around campus.

The events will benefit the Valley AIDS Network, a non-profit organization that aims to help those with AIDS and HIV. VAN offers financial and medical assistance, as well as outreach programs, for people in the central Shenandoah Valley with AIDS or the HIV virus. The organization also works to prevent the spread of HIV through educational and awareness programs, said Executive Director Gary Race.

"We’re trying to raise awareness and education not only in the central Shenandoah Valley, but also in the JMU community, showing that AIDS and HIV are problems that affect our community," said senior Courtney Kabot, a public relations intern for VAN. "By being educated and aware of the problem we can prevent ourselves from contracting [the virus]."

One of the week’s events was a speech on Tuesday night by JMU alumnus Ben Bank, who graduated in December 2002. Bank currently works as a Wish Coordinator at the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Richmond.

"I read about [the event] and thought it looked interesting," said freshman Amanda Gallant. "There are so many people at JMU and it’s inspiring to learn what hardships other people go through."

Bank was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the age of two. He endured 15 months of chemotherapy and underwent three blood transfusions.

"The scars on my body remind me of what I went through and the strength I have to have," Bank said. "They remind me how precious life is."

At age 12, Bank had been cancer-free for ten years. However, during a routine physical, doctors discovered that the blood transfusions that had saved his life had also infected him with HIV.

Bank kept his diagnosis a secret for years before he gained the strength to tell his friends. He received tremendous support, which gave him the courage to educate others.

"It’s something I have to do," Bank said. "I need to educate people and stop the spread of HIV."

HIV is spread because only one out of 11 HIV-positive people in the world know they have HIV at any given time, according to Bank. "In the 15-to-24 age group, there are 6,000 new diagnoses of HIV a day," he added.

To date, $8 million has been raised at events where Bank has spoken.

Bank encouraged the audience to protect themselves and be aware of the risks. "I didn’t have a choice, you guys do," said Banks.

"[Ben] is an amazing person," said junior Janelle Hezlep. "He has the most positive outlook on life and is so enthusiastic and energetic."

AIDS Awareness Week also included events such as the annual 5K AIDS Walk, which raised over $2,300 on Saturday. The University Health Center hosted a Cabaret show on Sunday night, featuring female impersonators and informational games. The University Health Center also offered free anonymous HIV testing for students on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday night, Emmy winner and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sharon Sopher screened her film, "HIV Goddesses: Stories of Courage."