HeB次元官网网址檚 best known as the shirt-and-tie clad ukelele busker seen along Government Street and the Inner Harbour. But this Thursday, Terry Groom, a.k.a Tee Jay, will be literally singing for his supper during the seventh annual Dining Out for Life Vancouver Island.

Groom, an HIV-positive, gay male living in Victoria, is a client of AIDS Vancouver Island.

On March 29, numerous restaurants throughout Greater Victoria are donating 25 per cent of proceeds from your restaurant bill to the Victoria branch of AVI. Some of the funds will go towards providing hot meals for people with HIV/AIDS.

B次元官网网址淧eople eating out will actually help people living with HIV (receive) nutritional meals,B次元官网网址� said Andrea Langlois, communications manager for AIDS Vancouver Island.

In 2010, there were 301 new cases of HIV diagnosed in B.C. Twenty-one of those people who tested positive were from Southern Vancouver Island. But 25 per cent of people with HIV donB次元官网网址檛 even know they have it, Langlois said.

The quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS is amazing now compared to 20 years ago, Groom said. Instead of taking as many as 24 pills in a cocktail, which people with HIV used to need, Groom now takes anti-viral therapy medication just once per day.

He takes the pill with the first meal he eats each day. A meal that often comes from the nutrition program at AVI.

B次元官网网址淭hey make a boxed lunch for me, or a bagged lunch, and I take it with me to my first performance venue,B次元官网网址� Groom explained. B次元官网网址淚f it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for that (program)B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檇 be eating a bologna sandwich.B次元官网网址�

As part of Dining Out For Life, Groom performs on March 29 at The Ledge at the Bedford Regency Hotel on Government Street.

He has always wanted to give back to AIDS service organizations, which have helped and continue to help him, he says. Performing at the gay-friendly lounge seems like B次元官网网址渢he perfect fit.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 much more comfortable soliciting donations with a ukelele in my hand and singing than I am going up to a table (of people) and saying B次元官网网址楬i there, my name is Terry and IB次元官网网址檓 a client of AVI, give me all your money,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Groom chuckled.

Groom, 46, said he contracted HIV in Vancouver seven years ago during a self-destructive and naive time of his life. The former drug-addict has had his two sons and his own father turn their backs on him. His marriage also fell apart, he said. But now, Groom has picked himself up and says heB次元官网网址檚 the happiest heB次元官网网址檚 ever been.

B次元官网网址淚 finally realized (in October 2011), even though I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to, through the help of AVI and my mentor, IB次元官网网址檝e learned to take my head out of my proverbial butt, smarten up and fly right,B次元官网网址� he said.

Groom has found happiness in playing music and helping others. He is a counsellor at Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society, working with people whoB次元官网网址檝e recently contracted HIV. He is also in the process of starting a menB次元官网网址檚 group for HIV-positive males, he said.

As a musician, he adds, he has an album, Better Here Than Nowhere, coming out on March 31.

After first being diagnosed with HIV, his doctor said it was probably the best thing for him, given his previous habits, Groom said.

B次元官网网址淚 thought that was the strangest, most incredibly bad thing (for my doctor) to sayB次元官网网址� but looking back on it, she was absolutely right,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t gave me a chance to slow down and take a look at myself from a different viewpoint (and) look after my health.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 healthier now in mind, spirit and body than he ever was before contracting HIV, he added.

Groom says he looks forward to performing at Dining Out For Life, interacting with guests and raising funds for AVI.

B次元官网网址淚 want people to enjoy my music and I want them to give generously to AVI because without them, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be doing what IB次元官网网址檓 doing.B次元官网网址�

A lot of the work that AVI does is to de-mystify the stigma around HIV/AIDS, Langlois said.

Dining Out For Life is an example of an event that reminds people that HIV/AIDS exists in our community, she added. It also reminds people that by coming together, the impact of HIV/AIDS can be diminished.

Tradition continues at Saanich location

Cabin 12, which recently re-located to Cedar Hill Road from downtown, is one of the restaurants taking part in Dining Out For Life. It will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Owner Corey Judd said Cabin 12 has been a part of the event for the past few years and continues to support it because itB次元官网网址檚 an interesting way to give back to the community.

B次元官网网址淲hat really impresses me about (Dining Out For Life) is that itB次元官网网址檚 really put together and how effective it is,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really easy way for businesses to participate and actually to give back and to be able to help out (the community).B次元官网网址�

Last yearB次元官网网址檚 event raised $30,000, Langlois said. But over the past six years, Dining Out For Life Victoria has raised $150,000.

Diners are invited to make donations outside of their food bill. As well, one-dollar of every Stella Artois beer sold on March 29 at participating restaurants will go to AVI.

For more information or to see a full list of participating restaurants, visit diningoutforlife.com/vancouverisland.

reporter@vicnews.com