PEOPLE suffering with HIV and AIDS joined forces with Thames Valley University on Thursday, December 1, to raise money for HIV-related charities.

As part of world AIDS day, members of the Ealing, Hammersmith, and Fulham African communities project who live with HIV and AIDS, and members of TVU's Faculty of Health came together to highlight the ongoing struggle with HIV.

They offered staff and students advice and information on HIV and aids including leaflets, condoms, pens, stickers, ribbons, posters and educational materials.

They also ran an HIV quiz with prizes donated by a variety of businesses.

Grace Spencer, lecturer in Public Health and Primary Care, helped organise the stand.

She said: "HIV remains an international challenge to public health as the number of individuals affected continues to rise.

She added: "World Aids Day is not only a reminder of this challenge but also an opportunity to raise awareness and education of HIV."

Money raised was donated to charity Positively Woman who support HIV positive women.

AIDS kills 8,500 people a day, and there are currently 40 m living with HIV worldwide.