Infected blood scandal: Peacehaven activist releases memoir

A haemophilia activist who was infected with HIV as a teenager says he wants his legacy to be “protecting the next generation” as he shares his experience of the infected blood scandal in his memoir.

Mark Ward, 55, who became HIV positive aged 14 after being treated for haemophilia in the 1980s, said it “took its toll psychologically”.

The campaigner, from Peacehaven in East Sussex, said he was prompted to share his story at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and now wants to be a voice for those who lost their lives to the infected blood scandal.

Mr Ward said: “Covid was another disease that could have killed me and transported me back to the 80s. I wanted to tell my story in my own words in case I didn’t make it.”

Mr Ward added: “I’ve always felt a duty, as I’m still here, to be the voice for those who have had their voices stolen.

“I want my legacy to be protecting the next generation, and this book will play a part in that.”

Mr Ward, who was born in Hertfordshire and moved to Sussex in 2004, founded blood disease support service Haemosexual and became the first LGBTQ+ ambassador for the Haemophiliac Society as part of his campaigning work.

He was one of more than 30,000 people in the UK who were infected with HIV and hepatitis C when they were treated with contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Around 2,900 of those affected are thought to have died.

In October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government had set aside £11.8bn to pay compensation to victims.

Mr Ward’s partner Richard said the response to the memoir, Bleeding Fabulous, had been “truly lovely”.

He said: “Some of the messages Mark has had at times have been truly mind-blowing at times.”