Football Saving Lives patron, Stiliyan Petrov, joined with the charity’s Medical Director, Dr Steve Taylor, to talk to the press today at Aston Villa Football Club’s training ground. During a press conference at Bodymoor Heath, Stiliyan reaffirmed the importance of the Saving Lives message, and how crucial it is that HIV remains in the public eye.
“Saving Lives is about people getting testing more for HIV. I’ve become a patron of this charity because I was shocked how few people are paying attention to HIV. I’m really proud to be part of this cause, especially getting the message across with football.
“People watch players, they follow football, and communicating the message through footballers and their teams in this way is a great way of promoting HIV awareness. People are already responding really well to the sweatband I’ve been wearing, asking questions. And when you explain what it’s all about, they really take notice. I’m really eager to get more players involved across the country.”
The press conference came ahead of Aston Villa’s key game against Mancheser United on Saturday, before which the team will be wearing Saving Lives t-shirts during warm-up. The Football Saving Lives charity is being launched to coincide with World AIDS Day, and will also include Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and more. This represents the first such involvement of Premier League clubs with an HIV charity focused on the UK.
Listen to Stiliyan’s comments below:
