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I'm riding in AIDS/LifeCycle again
Mar. 4th, 2010 10:40 pmThere are three reasons I do this ride:
One, to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS. This is the primary fundraiser for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. It's raised $60 million since its inception. Money goes to prevention, testing, and patient support in California, Africa, and Asia.
Two, to swell the ranks of a group advocating and demonstrating tolerance and respect for people who are not like everyone else. Here in the Bay Area we tend to forget what it's like to be a gay teenager in San Miguel. If you've ever met someone who had the same angst as you did about something you were afraid to talk about, or someone who just let you know it was okay to feel as you did, that you were not alone, you know what I'm talking about.
Three, for the joy of community, the accomplishment of raising the money, and the feeling of mastery I have when riding. I'm no Lance Armstrong, but the gods gave me endurance; give me a day and I can ride 100 miles; give me a week and some support and I can ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I can even help a few other riders along with "geezer draft" -- the ones who didn't pass me hours ago, that is.
The third one is my reward. The second is my contribution; the first is yours. Here's the link:
Whether you contribute or not, if you have a name you'd like to add to the bunch of memorial ribbons I tie to my helmet, let me know.
One, to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS. This is the primary fundraiser for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. It's raised $60 million since its inception. Money goes to prevention, testing, and patient support in California, Africa, and Asia.
Two, to swell the ranks of a group advocating and demonstrating tolerance and respect for people who are not like everyone else. Here in the Bay Area we tend to forget what it's like to be a gay teenager in San Miguel. If you've ever met someone who had the same angst as you did about something you were afraid to talk about, or someone who just let you know it was okay to feel as you did, that you were not alone, you know what I'm talking about.
Three, for the joy of community, the accomplishment of raising the money, and the feeling of mastery I have when riding. I'm no Lance Armstrong, but the gods gave me endurance; give me a day and I can ride 100 miles; give me a week and some support and I can ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I can even help a few other riders along with "geezer draft" -- the ones who didn't pass me hours ago, that is.
The third one is my reward. The second is my contribution; the first is yours. Here's the link:
Whether you contribute or not, if you have a name you'd like to add to the bunch of memorial ribbons I tie to my helmet, let me know.
