14: Why Candice Wiggins Cares About HIV

This start to the season for me and the rest of my Minnesota Lynx teammates has been amazing. We have changed things around here and the feeling in our locker room is great. I am thrilled to be able to contribute to the team and to the success of the Minnesota Lynx.

It is also tremendously exciting for me not only on the court, but off it as well. On June 10 th, I introduced my partnership with Until There's A Cure which will also benefit the Minnesota AIDS Project.

Until There's A Cure is a foundation devoted to creating awareness for AIDS and HIV. Their goal is to raise funds through the sales of bracelets for prevention, education, services and the development of a vaccine. Really, their name is self-explanatory, since their work will continue Until There's A Cure. Their dream is to see that no one else will become infected with HIV. They are also dedicated to educating people about the virus and the overwhelming need that those infected have for love and compassion in their fight against the disease.

He did so much to build our family to what it is today, but at the same time, his weakness took that away from him and our family.There are so many foundations and organizations out there that are dedicated to fighting HIV, but what attracted me most to Until There's A Cure is the fact that it is so simple in theory. I liked how it was straightforward, but I also liked how it wasn't necessarily just about awareness, it was also about education here and abroad, as the proceeds from the sale of their African bracelets go to AIDS programs in Africa.

I'd imagine a lot of you know this story, but I am dedicated to this mission because of what my dad went through. My father, Alan Wiggins, who played baseball for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, worked his way into a wonderful situation. He didn't go to college, but he made it as a professional baseball player, and he was one of the best players in the league, helping the Padres make it to the 1984 World Series.

What I do know about him is that he gave into the pressures that came with the lifestyle surrounding him. And unfortunately, it ended up destroying him. But it is like there are two sides to him because he was a great man and he did so much to build our family to what it is today, but at the same time, his weakness took that away from him and our family.

It was probably very difficult for my mom and there were times when she probably didn't know what to do raising us by herself, but she was incredible.Growing up, I heard somewhere that he was the first major league baseball player to die from AIDS. When I was growing up, AIDS was taboo and there was a very negative stigma attached to AIDS and HIV. It made it difficult for me and my brother and sister growing up. But my mom made sure that I didn't grow up in a negative environment. I think she took more than I took because she knew that I was too young to really understand it.

I got a hold of an article when I was really young about my dad. It said he did cocaine and lost. When I read that, it was confusing… but that is probably as close as I got to what was going on with him. I was just too young to understand it and my mom made sure that I wasn't exposed to the negativity.

I can't even imagine knowing all of the things that my mom knew, going through all of the things that she went through with that whole situation and everything that led up to it. But looking back, I had the best childhood imaginable. My mom was always there for me and she always supported everything I did. In school, she pushed me. On top of all of that, she made sure that I never felt sorry for myself and that I never made excuses because I didn't have a father. She never allowed me to think like that and was very loving at the same time. She is so strong. It was probably very difficult for her and there were times when she probably didn't know what to do raising us by herself, but she was incredible.

Because of the tragedy of my father's situation, I think being a part of Until There's A Cure is something that I was born to do. My mom always told me that I was going to be a great advocate for this. Somehow, she knew. When I was younger, I couldn't see it, but now that I am in the WNBA, I can. I just want to do whatever I can. It's not about changing the world immediately, but doing one thing at a time. If I can have an impact in any little way, then I feel like my father's death wasn't in vain.

If people look up to you, they are going to listen to what you have to say and the stories that you have to tell. We're in an age now where AIDS is different. It's not the same as it was when I was growing up, and I feel it is important to do all I can to help.

This is just the beginning, and there are a lot of projects that I really want to do. I would really love to focus on children. I feel that they are neglected in many ways in AIDS education programs. I'm telling you, I was an elementary school student curious to know about AIDS because it was a part of my world. Like I said, the 1990s were different than it is now. But now, there are a lot more tools out there to fight AIDS and HIV. Children are very impressionable. I know that when I was a child, if I had the information about AIDS and HIV presented to me in a way that I could understand it, it would have been very effective. This is something that I really want to explore. I'd really like to look into writing a book or doing something that is focused on the children because I think it is important to think of them in this fight against AIDS ... Until There's A Cure.

I'm really excited about how much support the Minnesota Lynx organization and the WNBA have shown me in this partnership with Until There's A Cure and in the other projects with which I am involved. They are just as excited as I am in pursuing what this partnership is working toward. I am just very proud to be a part of this organization and the WNBA and thankful that they are supporting me in this effort.

Fans can go online through Lynxbasketball.com and click on the special link to purchase additional bracelets. It is my goal to raise at least $20,000 through the sale of these bracelets for my outreach efforts in California and with the Minnesota AIDS Project. In advance, I just want to say that I cannot thank fans of the Minnesota Lynx and the WNBA enough for their support of me and my partnership with Until There's A Cure and the Minnesota AIDS Project.

Last Updated: Thursday, July 17, 2008
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