Rider hopes to raise AIDS awareness

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When a person admits to having HIV or AIDS, that person is taking a difficult, life-altering step. It can mean the loss of a job, family or friends, even the support of his community.

Thomas Janvier went public despite that risk of loss. AIDS is a fact of his life and he will talk openly about the disease and his imminent death to anyone who cares to listen.

The 42-year-old rode his bike through Lac La Biche on July 14 on his way from Janvier in northeastern Alberta to the healing waters of Lac Ste. Anne.

His reasons for making the two-wheeled pilgrimage, 500 kilometre it all, were many.

"It's for myself; spiritual healing, praying for my friends, family, and to establish a much-needed HIV support centre," he said.

Lac Ste. Anne is the destination of thousands of people each year, who believe the waters to have healing powers. It's a trek that Janvier's grandparents made.

When the pilgrimages began hundreds of years ago, most walked, others were on horseback. Today Janvier's mode of transportation is a red bike.

Though he lives in Vancouver, when he returns home to the Chipwyan Prairie band, it's how he's known.

"The kids at the reserve say, 'There's the man on the bike.' It's what I'm known for," he said.

The bike was given to him by the sister of a friend that died. When Janvier dies, the bike is to be buried with him.

"I don't want to leave it for anyone," he said.

Janvier eyes are bright. He seems happy, and although he has AIDS and is suffering early dementia, he appears healthy. It's a disease he lives with day to day, and knows that some day, it will take him. He's seen too many die.

"I've seen a lot of friends pass away to AIDS. Seventy-eight people," he said.

He doesn't know how much longer he's got.

"I'm on the last cocktail," he said of the combination of medicines AIDS patients take to stay alive.

"I'm sick of burying people. What have I done? It's the guilty feeling where you've outlived all your friends. They were more productive than I was. I just have Grade 12 and an office administration diploma. They had degrees and university," he said.

Lyn Gorman is his riding partner for the trip. She said despite his health, he is a lot stronger than he looks. She had trouble keeping up with him the first day, and the only reason she said she rode passed him on the second day was because he had a sore knee.

Gorman said she was approached by Janvier last year to do the trek.

"We had to obtain funding. We did fundraising to pay for Thomas' bike to be repaired, rent a van, buy food," she said.

The travel plans were made to cut across the province to raise awareness in many smaller communities about life with AIDS.

Gorman said there are some known cases in the Fort McMurray area, however because there is no support centre, there is no place for people to talk, to remain anonymous.

"It's difficult to get together. People want to remain anonymous. I thought that by supporting Thomas in this, that we would raise awareness. The main goal is to raise awareness and demonstrate to people that we can't discriminate against people with HIV. They are still people and they are going to die. The quality of life needs to be made good for their remaining years."

The awareness has started thanks to the ride. Janvier said people from reserves are offering prayers,and rosaries and there has been a sweat lodge held in his honor in Manitoba.