Gareth Thomas determined to bust the myths around HIV

Not since his days as a Welsh rugby international had Gareth Thomas faced nerves like those which greeted him backstage in New York before delivering a TED Talk on banishing the ongoing stigma around HIV. But with that challenge successfully negotiated and a global audience made aware of his message, the 48-year-old is now hoping to carry the momentum into a campaign closer to home. Ad The Tackle HIV Myth Bus Tour will launch at the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 2 and go on to visit Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, and London, offering educational information on HIV as well as encouraging and offering testing advice, information and test kits to the public.

ATP SeoulHighlights: Brooksby beats Wu to reach second round at Korea Open32 MINUTES AGO And fresh from his trip across the Atlantic, Thomas sees this as the next step in his mission to be proactive in sharing vital knowledge about the virus and quashing myths still commonly held. «Just as stigma evolves, you have to evolve the fight against stigma,» he said. «We want to grasp the attention of people who usually wouldn't be listening to these kinds of things or feel they don't need a test».

«The TED Talk was an example — that is a global stage. We worked hard to get that platform and I was honoured to be the one delivering it, amongst some truly exceptional individuals and speakers». «Waiting to go on stage, seeing someone give a perfectly prepared speech and knowing I was going next, it was a journey back to standing in a tunnel before a Wales game, be it against England or a World Cup game.