I'm Riding to End AIDS
2022 will be the 21st AIDS/LifeCycle and my 11th consecutive year that I will be helping raise the needed funds to support those living with HIV/AIDS that don't have the resources to afford all their medical needs.
My goal this year is to raise at least $10,000 to help that that are affected and effected by HIV/AIDS.
$1,000 covers a full year of medical supplies for 40 patients seen by the recipient agencies of AIDS/LifeCycle.
It is estimated that over 35 million people around the world are infected with HIV and AIDS has caused the death of approximately 32 million globaly since 1981, these numbers are as of 2012.
I was diagnosed HIV Positive in 2008 and while it is never easy for one to receive such news I can count myself as one of the lucky ones as it was caught early and appropriate treatment was started immediately.
While unfortunately there can still be a stigma out there for people that are HIV positive many who know me and train with me can attest that I will, unless being a rider leader for that day will proudly where a Positive Pedalers Jersey like the one I'm wearing in the picture on this page, which was designed for the 2013 riding year by Chris Eisenberg. I wore it climbing Quadbuster with the tags of David Wood.
I am fortunate enough to have comprehensive health insurance and can afford whatever other out of pocket costs that my insurance does not cover. For many others though that is not a possibility and they need the assistance of the many organizations out there just for that purpose, like AIDS/LifeCycle.
Close to 2500 riders and more than 500 additional support staff travel for 7 day from San Francisco to Los Angeles for 545 mile, one big family. There are many highlights and sometimes lowlights during the week. Those lowlights usually are just personally hitting a "wall", but with the support of such a caring group we all ride with it's easy to pick oneself back up and continue moving forward to complete the journey to LA. The highlights are too numerous to name them all but a few on this list I'm sure will make on most everyone who has done the ride:
* Ride out of the Cow Palace
* Our first glimpses of the coast and lunch for day 1
* Conquering "Quad Buster" and then lunch in Bradley a town of some 120 people who open their hearts for us, as well as we open our hearts and wallets for them for a school fundraiser where the children are serving us lunch.
* Ventura and the Candle Light Vigil on the beach the last night of the ride
* The ride into the Finish Line Festival to such love and cheers from the spectators along the final miles of the route.
Once again from June 5 - June 11, 2022; I'm bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Help me support AIDS/LifeCycle by giving what you can. We'll keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past.
Thank you for your support.
Carl