25 faces: Leaders fighting HIV/AIDS in Colorado

7 Richard Blair

Richard Blair started volunteering for CAP in 1987, after he lost several friends to AIDS during the throes of the crisis in 1986.

“The services provided were pretty slim back then,” Blair said – “There were support groups, and a small amount of money for emergency funds.”

A lot has changed since then, said Blair, 58, who lives in Colorado Springs and is the Southern CAP Regional Director.

“Every year that goes by, it seems like that there are more and more positive changes. I think the biggest issue that everyone recognizes was the introduction of the drug cocktail” in the 1990s, Blair said.

But what fewer realize is that it’s still a significant issue – “There’s still no cure for it,” Blair said. “People can live a good life with HIV, but they’d still be much healthier without it.”

And for Blair, much thanks goes to those who have worked hard on the issue, making all the improvements possible.

“There are thousands of individuals across the state who have improved lives,” Blair said.