We Never Forget One Of Our Own

Janelle Martin left and Benoit Boulay right want to end AIDS

It can’t be said often enough that Patrick Fortin was a gutsy young man who put a face to AIDS in North Bay.

Contracting HIV from tainted blood when he was just 7-years old, Patrick didn’t cower to the enormity of what being HIV positive meant, instead the brave young man opened his life and illness up to the public eye to educate people about the disease. Patrick's efforts forever changed the lives of his family and friends.

The Fortin’s have embraced Patrick’s legacy and through the Patrick4life Foundation they continue his quest to enlighten and educate youth about AIDS.

“The family presented to the class and the video was hard to watch,” says Chantal Rota organising staff member.

“The students learn about it (AIDS) in class in the curriculum, but to see it, feel it, live it, they were inspired to get involved.”

In anticipation of the Patrick4Life 'Patrick4Life Family Fest event this coming Sunday, students at Ecole secondaire catholique Algonquin decided to have a practice run for the Fortin Family.

Students each signed up for a pledge sheet and were to raise $20 each in order to participate and today 186 students qualified to leave class and walk, run or roll with the Fortins. The Funds raised will go to benefit the Aids Committee of North Bay and Area.

Rota says the event was a real team effort with students, teachers and the principal all pitching in to make it happen.

“It was hard to know what to expect as it was the first time, but there will be many more to come.”

“Two kids raised $100 each and the rest did quite well,” says Rota.

Benoit Boulay a participating student says after hearing the Fortin family speak that he didn’t hesitate at all to get involved.

“It was very touching … just to cut his life so short.”

“It’s a good cause and if we can help finish AIDS it would be good.”

Janelle Martin also a participating student says her gym teacher Laurie Tremblay encouraged students in class to join up, but says she really wanted to help just the same.

“Because as Benoit said it’s a really good cause, people are affected by AIDS all the time and this one person, Patrick Fortin, he was a haemophiliac and he got it through a blood transfusion.

“It ended his live so soon and that was really sad. We need to help people in different countries and in our own country fight AIDS,” states Martin.

Rota says it was an honour to help with the event.

“Patrick was a Baron and we never forget one of our own.”

For complete details of Sunday’s event visit http://www.patrick4life.org