as several remember the lives lost, those living with the disease are constantly reminded about the little progress made toward finding a cure.
But local groups like the Aids Network continue the fight to educate AIDS patients.

"if one of us has this disease we all have it and that it isn't a African American disease and it isn't a m-s-m disease, it's not a trans-gender disease, it's not a homosexual disease, it's a disease of humanity," says AIDS patient Bob Bowers.

Bob Bowers has been living with AIDS for nearly 23 years, he now devotes his time to educating people about the disease and the day to day struggle that goes along with it.

" there's stigma there's shame there's homophobia there's racism, there's a whole lot of problems that surround AIDS. "
But one of the main problems, medication. Bowers says as the United States reaches out to other countries battling AIDS, Americans continue to suffer.

" we think the ability to get countries like Africa and India access to HIV medications but we don't have full access right here in the United States."

For Bowers educating himself on AIDS came with time, when he was diagnosed the doctors used a term no longer used , AIDS related complex. Since then Bowers has been in a constant battle to fight the disease.

"I have been in a wheelchair I've had months and years of perfuse vomiting to the point where I had pre cancer in my throat . "

But it has been programs like the Madison Aids Network , which currently offers support to more than three hundred patients, that helps Bowers continue especially on a Day like World AIDS Day.

"our promise is that we will be here as long as we need to be here taking care of people living with AIDS and doing everything that we can to prevent further infections from happening," says AIDS Network Executive Director, Bob Powers.

" it's a bitter sweet day we've made progress but the pandemic rages on and there's much work to be done and I fight just as hard on this day," says Bob Bowers.

A fight that millions are fighting across the U.S., waiting for the for the day when there is a cure of more than just hope.

" AIDS Is far from over "