Better late than never... Will you support me in the fight to end HIV/AIDS?
In June of 2019, for the fourth year in a row, I will be joining over 3,000 Cyclists, Roadies and Virtual Cyclists to participate in AIDS/LifeCycle, a 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds for the life-saving services offered by San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Last year’s ride raised over $16 million for these two institutions - $52,351.89 of which was from my community of family and friends, making me the #3 (out of over 2,500 participants) overall fundraiser in 2018!
Though I will be taking this year off from the ride (25th College Reunion and a family wedding are both good excuses), I still intend to support the Trudging Buddies team as a “virtual cyclist,” and have set a fundraising target of $5,000... WILL YOU HELP ME REACH MY GOAL?
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME FUNDRAISING VIDEO - https://youtu.be/NNPVt406qmc
Please see below for examples of what contributions at various levels will enable:
- $50 allows for the purchase and distribution of 550 condoms
- $100 enables prevention counseling for 12 clients
- $250 covers the cost of 20 rapid HIV and antibody tests
- $500 purchases a full year of medical supplies for 20 patients
- $1,000 provides substance abuse counseling services for 25 clients
- $5,000 covers the full suite of testing, counseling, initial treatment and services for 33 newly-diagnosed HIV+ clients
- $10,000 pays 1 month of housing for 16 homeless HIV+ people
Given the current political climate – in which the vice president supports re-routing funds away from HIV treatment/prevention and towards “conversion therapy” for gay people – it is especially important that community organizations such as the SF Aids Foundation and the LA LGBT Center have the funding necessary to perform their life-saving work. I am hoping that my community of family, friends and colleagues will continue to dig deep to support me and this cause that affects me so personally.
Receiving my HIV-positive diagnosis in June of 2012 (in my native San Francisco) sent me into a downward spiral. Out of fear and shame, I kept my status a secret from my family and friends, and turned to drugs and alcohol as my coping mechanism. Within a year, my life became completely unmanageable, and I moved to Los Angeles to begin my journey in recovery. The Los Angeles LGBT Center has been a huge part of that recovery - providing the medical, social and mental health resources I have needed to be restored to health and sanity. As a result, my viral load is undetectable and I have been sober since March of 2014.
The services provided as a result of this event mean the world to those who receive them, and your support means the world to me. We’re working together to make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past. Will you support me by making a donation today?