Olympic skater sees hope in battle against HIV/AIDS

The memory of a young woman suffering from AIDS in a Nigerian hospital lingers in Cindy Klassen’s mind as she prepares for the World Cup speed skating competitions this November.

“She was in her 20s – about my age,” recalled Klassen. “She was just skin and bones. She could hardly move. She had a throat infection and couldn’t eat. It was really sad. I had never seen anybody before in such a bad condition.”

Klassen was surprised to hear the woman’s health had actually improved since she had started receiving antiretroviral therapy.

She was equally amazed to hear her tour guide, Ezekiel, say he had been just as sick as this woman before he started a nutrition and drug therapy program at the Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria where he now works as a volunteer.

Klassen, one of the most successful athletes at the 2006 Turin Olympics, visited Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) projects relating to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and Ethiopia in July.

Cindy Klassen spends time with Kande Mancha and her grandson James in Nigeria. Mancha is raising five children left behind by the death of her two sons, who both died of AIDS. James receives support from MCC’s Global Family program through local partner Almanah Rescue Mission in Jos, Nigeria. MCC news photo: Mark Beach

“I didn’t know what to expect from the trip but so many times I felt so much hope,” she said.

Following Klassen’s spectacular success at the Turin Olympics when she won five medals for Canada, MCC Canada invited Klassen to learn more about HIV/AIDS and MCC’s Generations at Risk projects.

Klassen said her relationship with MCC is giving her the opportunity to skate for the sick young woman in the Nigerian hospital, other patients, staff, and caregivers. Many caregivers, she noted, also have the disease.

“I hope I can help raise awareness that the battle against HIV/AIDS is not a lost cause. Positive things are happening. It is very encouraging.”

A video of Klassen’s visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia will be available for distribution through MCC this fall. Short video clips of her visit are already posted on MCC’s aidscarenow.org website.

—Gladys Terichow, MCC Canada