Barry Haarde Making a Difference

 

Barry Haarde's enthusiasm for biking has accomplished many things. First, it has enhanced the quality of life for this 46 year old who happens to have severe hemophilia. Barry was infected with HIV and Hepatitis C during the 1980s due to contaminated blood products. Living with three medical conditions that have each proven fatal to many people has turned Barry into both a role model and an inspiration. His new slogan is "If I can do it, so can you", encouraging everyone, both in the hemophilia community and elsewhere to get fit and be healthy.

At the time these photographs were taken, Barry was approximately 3300 miles (45 out of 49 days) into a bike trek from coast to coast. While he definitely enjoys to ride, his goals were much larger that biking from one ocean to another. Barry is the participant in the "Wheels for the World" fundraiser, raising money to help children with hemophilia in developing countries. Through "Save One Life" (the non-profit receiving the funds raised by Barry's journey) many children with bleeding disorders in developing countries get access to clotting factor. In the Town of Verona Kris Richardson from U&I Pharmacy had the pleasure of presenting Barry with a check to go toward his goal from the Hemophilia Connection, the local hemophilia organization.

 

Barry's other reasons for doing this serve a much larger purpose. First, breaking through the stigma associated with having HIV is obviously very important. There should be no shame in having HIV. While we were talking Barry remembered the stigma and repercussions when people found out that Ryan White and Ricky Ray had HIV/AIDS. There's no reason a person living with an already serious condition should need to live in secrecy or fear the very community they live in.

With men like this setting examples for the rest of the world to follow, who can help but feel a little pride in knowing that a better future is on its way.