Pictured above: The Fortin family Patrick Fortin was a gutsy young man who put a face to AIDS in North Bay.
Pictured above: The Fortin family
Patrick Fortin was a gutsy young man who put a face to AIDS in North Bay.
Contracting HIV at the age of seven through tainted blood products, Foritn decided not to be bitter with the situation, instead, in the adversity of a disease that is laced with stigma, Fortin and his family didn't hide away, instead they opted to live a public life educating everyone about the disease that ravaged a sweet young man and forever changed the lives of his family and friends.
During an emotional media launch Friday to kick off 100 days until the 'Patrick4Life Family Fest', Christine Fortin, said her son would be proud that the fight continues.
"Patrick would have a beautiful soft smile on his face right now," states Fortin.
"He was not ashamed, lived everyday to the fullest, and he accepted what was happening and we had a great 23 years with Patrick."
Fortin lost his courageous battle four years ago and even as Patrick was slipping away in his final days, he allowed the public one more glance at the face of AIDS in order to help educate the public.
It was Patrick's openness and need to educate that has strengthened the Fortin's resolve to continue Patrick's legacy.
"I would have had no idea in my grieving the last 4 years that this was going to develop," says Fortin in regards to the fund raising marathon.
"I'm feeling the energy coming from the outside, so if people are willing to support us than I'm willing to get a head start finding out what's happening in Canada and making Canada a better Country."
That support comes not only from friends, families and other individuals affected by the disease, but from honourary co-chairs, Mayor Victor Fedeli and the very articulate, Gerri Clout.
When asked why she had decided to take on the role of honourary chair the 13-year-old Clout bluntly said "Why wouldn't I?".
"I look up to the Fortins with great respect. They're amazing people and Patrick was an amazing person, and to be able to hounour his life like this is an amazing thing. So why wouldn't I?"
Clout also supports the Fortin family's quest to have HIV/AIDS education started in Kindergarten, taking a moment to remind the crowd and the young people, who hear of the event, that apathy can be dangerous.
"Well as I said, it wasn't mentioned in my class until grade 7 and it was just so brief, even then, that I can't say I learned anything new."
"If we're not educated about how dramatic this disease is then nothing happens and then North America will be the new Africa," states Clout.
"The curriculums are written and I want to see it happening in every school here in our community," says Fortin.
"We could use North Bay as a pilot project to show a community that does create awareness will make the world a better place," continued Fortin.
Clout also publicly challenged her co-chair, Fedeli, to see who could raise the most funds for the June 11th event.
"Even going out to support the the cause and running or doing the walk, that's a start, because we have to start somewhere and even if it's small it will grow."
All funds raised at the marathon will go to help the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area to continue supporting people in the community who are living with AIDS.
"They were an enormous support the day I called, they said what can we do to help, and I didn't know what we needed, but I knew we needed some incredible support in more than one way," Fortin says of the Committee.
"They were there for us in their support, in their understanding of what we were going through and we're very very happy to be helping the AIDS Committee back for what they've done for us."
Complete details and registration information can be found at:
www.patrick4life.org
