December 1 is World AIDS Day. The day brings attention to the value of education, the importance of ensuring access to life-saving drugs, and the need to eliminate stigma and prejudice against people living with HIV. It is also a day of reflection, where we remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.
In observance of World AIDS Day, a major new feature (four years in the works) has been published to the blog. They Skated Away is an online memorial and educational tool which remembers the skaters, coaches and choreographers we have lost, through biographies, photos, obituaries, newspaper articles and oral history interviews. This will be an evergreen project, which will be updated as people contribute their own memories and photos. You can explore They Skated Away here: www.skateguardblog.com/p/they-skated-away.html