More than three quarters of the funds necessary for Canberra's planned AIDS memorial have been raised, only three months after the garden's position in the National Arboretum was secured.
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About $95,000 of the necessary $125,000 has been raised for the AIDS Garden of Reflection, which will be based at the arboretum as a permanent place of peace and remembrance for family members, friends and supporters of people affected by the syndrome.
Long-time campaigner for the garden, Richard Allen, said the outpouring of support from the community so far had left him both gobsmacked and "over the moon".
"I'm ecstatic, I can't believe we're so close and I thought it'd be five or 10 years down the track before I'd get anywhere," he said.
Among the more than 50 friends and loved ones Mr Allen lost to HIV/AIDS was his partner, who died in 1994.
Mr Allen was diagnosed [with HIV] more than 25 years ago and has campaigned for years to have a memorial or place of reflection in the capital.
"I want to bring my partner's spirit to this place so he can be with me," he said.
More money will be raised at a memorial on Thursday for HIV/AIDS campaigner and Interchange General Practice founder Dr Peter Rowland, who was shot and killed 20 years ago.
All proceeds from the night at King O'Malleys in Civic will go towards the garden.
AIDS Action Council executive director Philippa Moss said the community had been extremely generous in a short space of time.
"We could never have imagined raising this sort of money and now we are so close, the dream is almost a reality," she said.
Snow Foundation chief executive Georgina Byron said the garden's purpose went beyond remembrance.
"The space will provide, in perpetuity, a place of reflection so that the lives of people who have died from HIV and AIDS are not forgotten and their story is known by future generations," she said.
"Most memorials are built after the struggle is over; but there is no cure for HIV, people continue to be at risk and we need to work together to eliminate HIV in our community."
