In 2000, Averitt completed a hike of the entire length of the Appalachian Trail called “Trekking with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” to raise awareness about Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the reality that it can affect anyone, and to celebrate 12 years of successfully living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Averitt was diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in 1988 at the age of 19, most likely acquired as a result of a rape she experienced living and modeling in Spain. She began her career working in the office of Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia from 1990 to 1993. Averitt started working for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Survival Project in 1993.
She was an early advocate for women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and for reducing stigma associated with the disease in order to improve access to care.
In 1995, Averitt launched the Women's Information Service and Exchange (WISE) the first United States-based organization to focus on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome treatment information and advocacy for women. In 2001, Averitt decided to have children and in 2002 authored an article called "Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Pregnancy: Tough Choices and the Right to Choose" about her choice.
In 2002 and 2004, Averitt delivered two healthy Human Immunodeficiency Virus negative children. She founded a think tank in 2003 that became the Women"s Research Initiative on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (WRI).
From 2006 to 2009 Averitt was a driving force behind the GRACE Study, the first Human Immunodeficiency Virus treatment study in the United States to successfully enroll a majority of women.
The GRACE Study helped show that Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive women and people of color will participate in clinical studies and that they experience different barriers to treatment than mentor In 2010, Averitt was named to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (PACHA). In 2012, she organized the first National Human Immunodeficiency Virus Awareness Month in the United States to raise awareness of the ongoing epidemic in the United States. To date, more than 63,000 people have signed a petition on the organization’s website committing to help end Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in the United States.
