Gregg Allman posthumously honoured for hepatitis activism

Late rocker Gregg Allman was saluted for his efforts to raise awareness and funds for hepatitis research at a special gala in Washington, D.C. on Thursday (19Oct17).
Officials at the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) presented a new annual award to the singer’s longtime manager, Michael Lehman, in recognition of Allman’s contributions to the community at the organisation’s 15th anniversary dinner.
The Allman Brothers Band star went public with his own battle with viral infection hepatitis C in 2011.
“Gregg Allman was, and remains, one of the few celebrities to go public about his journey with hepatitis C,” said Ryan Clary, executive director of NVHR. “He empowered baby boomers to seek treatment and testing, and raised critical funds for NVHR and the American Liver Foundation. We will be forever grateful.”
Lehman added, “Gregg recognised an awareness gap, particularly among baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) who are infected with hepatitis C and either don’t realise they have the virus or just are not seeking treatment.
“He sought to remove the stigma with the message that it doesn’t matter how you contract hepatitis C – it only matters that you find it and treat it. While I wish Gregg were here to receive the award himself, I’m honoured to accept it on his behalf and to have the opportunity to support NVHR for all its work over the past 15 years to stem the tide of this devastating disease.”
Allman passed away in May (17) from complications from liver cancer, aged 69.