HIV-positive youth group bonds while training for Pride and Remembrance run

Members of the Positive Youth Outreach group (PYO) toeing the start line at the Pride and Remembrance run were in for a treat. The group’s coach, Gabriel Jarquin, also the race’s experience director, got the party (and the race) started by introducing the warmup hosts and amplifying an already energetic crowd. The PYO program aims to connect people under 30 who are living with or affected by HIV. The youth program has been meeting for decades and offers a weekly time to connect, learn and share a meal with those attending.

Our very own PYO has been chosen as a beneficiary of Pride Run TO this year! Positive Youth Outreach meets weekly and covers topics such as healthy relationships, medications, disclosure, etc. It also provides a fun and safe space to socialize with other Poz youth! https://t.co/o4r7nLeO7u

— ACT (@ACToronto) June 1, 2022

Jarquin has been a change-maker and leader in the LGBTQ+ community for years now, and one of his initiatives this year was to partner with the Positive Youth Outreach group at the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), helping them train for their first event. Program co-ordinator Marc Lombardo recently teamed up with Jarquin to get the group out and moving. They began doing weekly walk-run sessions, with the goal of taking part in the Pride run.

Lombardo explains that he tries to switch up the programming from week to week to provide meaningful experiences for the group. “I try to have guest speakers that are HIV-positive or connected to the HIV-positive community come in regularly. Sometimes we do an activity as a group, and sometimes we head out into the city and take part in something,” he says. When Jarquin suggested combining forces to get everyone moving, Lombardo was all in. “We’re already talking about a season two,” Lombardo said about the run.

With Jarquin providing guidance, the group began taking their weekly gatherings to the pavement and paths. After meeting up at ACT, they walked to Queen’s Park, warmed up with drills, and went through some walk/run intervals. “It’s a bit nerve-wracking being a coach when I am used to being the one coached,” says Jarquin. “The group is all so sweet, and it’s easy to work with them,” he added. The group members clearly connected with Jarquin and appreciated both his running wisdom and life experience.

“I remember our first run and connecting with Gabriel for the first time,” shared one group member, Sam. “It was therapeutic to run with peers from the community who had some core things in common, even though our stories are all unique and different. Experiencing every stretch, stride, and baby step that went into preparing for the run was truly unforgettable.” Sam adds: “Meeting Gabriel and connecting with his story in relation to mine made it more special.”

After six weeks of preparation, the group was excited to test out their training at the Pride run event of their choosing: three finished their first 5K distance, and two group members completed the 3K. Twelve youth participated in the training series. The process of training for the run was not only fun for the group but left a bigger impact on them than they expected.

“I’ve always enjoyed running for my health. But running for a cause, for being celebrated for who I am was really important for me. As a gay HIV-positive person, I’ve never been celebrated in my home country, Turkey, where I felt I was running away from the police because of who I am. With Gabriel, I had a chance to network with other people and I will continue my running journey with running groups in Toronto. I’m excited for next year and will aim to run in the first corral in the Pride run, ”  said group member Sertaç Ataman.

Sam echoed Ataman’s feelings. “I felt free and safe during the training leading up to the run. The Pride run was a beautiful experience. With my diagnosis, being cheered by fellow runners and those on the sidelines did a lot of mental strengthening for me. Although they were just cheering, when I heard my name called I also heard the message: ‘we see you, don’t give up, keep going, you can finish strong. It’s okay to be tired but don’t let that stop you.'” He added, “I’ll keep running. It has inspired me to try new things in community settings. I can use my pain for good. I can give purpose to my past.”

Jarquin will no doubt continue to impact his city and community. “This is why running is so precious! We meet such amazing people,” he said. The sense of belonging and hope Jarquin shared within the youth group will be remembered: “Even though our community is not perfect, I believe more people like Gabriel will rise up to inspire positive change,” said Sam.

As a featured member of the UA Diversity Series, Jarquin was provided with a $5,000 gear donation courtesy of Under Armour. Jarquin’s dedication to the LGBTQ+ community, both as a runner and outside of running, made him the perfect person to determine where the gear could be best used. From the start Jarquin had a plan and used this donation to help outfit the entire Positive Youth Outreach running group with head-to-toe UA gear.  Under Armour Canada expressed their appreciation for Gabriel’s dedication: “We would like to thank Gabriel for being an incredible member of the Toronto run community. His passion and guidance has helped introduce new runners to the sport and connect like-minded people through running, while also living one of our core values, ‘Stand for Equality.’  The Under Armour Canada team thanks Gabriel for his dedication to the LGBTQ+ community.”