Red Is The Colour... for December 1st

Heriot Watt University Students Union and Borders College Students Association held a joint event on Scottish Borders Campus, Galashiels, to mark World AIDS Day. With a target audience of more than 1,000 people comprising of students and staff, the day was filled with a variety of activities to raise awareness. Other organisations including LGBT Forum, NHS Borders and Waverley Care, gave their support. Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading charity which provides care and support to people living with HIV and Hepatitis C. In addition, they raise awareness of the conditions and prevention of their transmission.

Red ribbons have been on sale at the Campus and other local venues during the preceding weeks. In the days leading up to the event, supporters were busy creating red colour based foods to donate to the Cake Bake tables – funds from both went to National AIDS Trust.

Thursday saw many people supporting the red themed day by choosing an appropriately coloured item of clothing to wear to Scottish Borders Campus. For the privilege of doing so, they were asked to donate £1 to the cause – if they chose not to dress in red, they were invited to pay £2.

During the lunch break, Tartan Monkey, the mascot for Borders College Students Association (resplendent in his customised red t-shirt) and Heriot Watt University Students Union’s Red Dragon showed their considerable dancing skills, encouraging diners in the Union to join in the flash mob. Following that, they led interested groups through to hear a very informative talk by Neil Bird from Waverley Care.

All in all, it proved to be a successful day. Thanks are due to those who were involved in any way whether as organisers, representatives, supporters of the fund raisers or a combination of roles.

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