Press Room

Why I Participate: Northern California

Tiffany Garcia, Cyclist # 1975 (San Jose)

Tiffany has ridden every single AIDS/LifeCycle, and is dedicating ALC 7 to Jay.

Tiffany met Jay when she volunteered at Camp Sunburst, a therapeutic residential camp for children with HIV/AIDS. "Quite a feisty Georgia peach," Jay later joined the camp staff and eventually became a national spokesperson about pediatric AIDS. In fact, Tiffany accompanied him to the White House to meet with President Clinton. "Jay moved mountains in fight against HIV/AIDS. He spoke at high schools and opened the discussion of safer sex among a generation of teens. He represented what was good and honest among his generation while facing his own mortality."

Jay died a couple of years ago. "He never knew how he changed my life," Tiffany says. "His mission is now my mission. I will not let him down now."

Visit Tiffany's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Joe Jones, Cyclist #1749 (Pleasanton)

In 1989, doctors pulled a tangerine-sized blood clot from Joe's brain. They predicted he had but a 5% chance of surviving; and, if he did, he'd remain a nursing-home-bound invalid for the rest of his life.

This will be Joe's second AIDS/LifeCycle.

A previously avid athlete, Joe was determined to stay active despite the paralysis resulting from the clot. He engaged in years of therapy with uncommon determination. Soon he could walk again, and he even undertook a new sport, cycling on a modified tricycle. Although he'd recovered 80% mobility in his left leg, his left hand remained paralyzed. Joe simply moved all the gears, brakes and shifts to the right side of the bike so he could do everything with his right hand, including steering.

He met his cycling partner, Robb Gibbs (Cyclist #1748), at a family BBQ because their children were dating. Together the pair have ridden more than 10,000 miles together on their customized tandem recumbent bike.

It was Rob who first heard about AIDS/Lifecycle: "It was a kind of challenge that we took on and we push each other. We're both very competitive."

"You pretty much get out of life what you put into it," Joe explains. "I could have lain down and gone to a nursing home and given up my life and my family. But, you know, it was just worth too much for me. I wasn't about to allow that to happen."

Visit Joe's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Sean Ray, Cyclist #1103 (San Francisco)

Sean has been HIV-positive since August of 2000. A member of Positive Pedalers, this will be his fourth ride, motivated this time in part because of a poignant experience he had last year on ALC 6.

While riding through one of the small towns, a group of very young kids and their teachers were out, cheering, asking questions, shaking his hand. Touched by their showing of support, he imagined the time when those children would learn about HIV and AIDS--in a positive manner, unlike the way many in his generation had learned.

"That is why I am riding. I don't want the kids in my life, or their kids, growing up in fear of what it means to be living with HIV. I want to put a face on this disease and make it easier for them, and for others, to understand. I lost too many friends to this disease over the years, and I never want others to experience that pain. I do believe that the only way we can change the way people think of HIV and AIDS is by doing everything we possibly can to spread awareness and help those in need."

Visit Sean's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Alexandria Fonseca, Cyclist #3213, San Francisco

This is Alexandria's first AIDS/LifeCycle. In fact, until recently she'd never done anything like this, or even considered it. Nor did she give HIV or AIDS much thought. Then a long-time friend and colleague was hospitalized, and it was only then she learned he was HIV-positive.

"Frankly, I'd never really thought about AIDS much. But my friend's illness brought it home. And I was surprised by his silence, the shame and stigma he must have lived with. I'm riding because I want to make everyone aware of this disease. A lot of people are not comfortable talking about it, especially in the Latino community. I feel like I am really doing something important."

Visit Alexandria's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Dr. Lisa Sterman, Cyclist #2069, San Francisco

Lisa has been working with gay men in San Francisco since 1986 when she started as a volunteer in the San Francisco General Hospital HIV ward. She's worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in HIV research, and for the last 14 years, she's been in San Francisco doing HIV patient care.

"I am riding this year again because I see how vital our HIV prevention efforts are. We do not have a vaccine or hope of a cure for HIV at this time. And just today I diagnosed another young man with HIV. It was just so sad. I am more dedicated than ever to helping the San Francisco AIDS Foundation prevent such infections, and one day to end them completely."

Visit Lisa's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Kerwin Alexander, Cyclist #3138, Alameda, CA

This is Kerwin's second AIDS/LifeCyle. Yes, the man who, during his training last year was almost air-lifted off the Golden Gate Bridge, was attacked by vultures on a deserted road, and went through five bikes before finding one that was just right, this man is back for more. "I'm just trying to make a difference in someone else's life," he says.

But Kerwin acknowledges that AIDS/LifeCycle has made a difference in his life as well, citing the Dream Girls song "I Am Changing" to explain: "Look at me. I am changing. Trying every way I can. I am changing. I'll be better than I am. But I need you. I need a hand. All of my life I've been a fool. Who said I could do it all alone? How many good friends have I already lost? I am changing..."

Visit Kerwin's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Louie Butler, cyclist #1798

This is Louie's third year participating in AIDS/Lifecycle as a member of the FedEx Cycling Team. 

"Jon, my best friend from college, was the first casualty in my life to lose the battle to HIV/AIDS in 1988.  Others were to follow: Jeff, Shawn and Severic. At the time of Jon's death, if someone was infected or dying from HIV/AIDS, most families would attribute it to kidney failure, or maybe pneumonia.

"It is with great pride that I ride with the FedEx Cycling Team once again.  It is an honor to work for a company that supports the communities that we work in and for; that, by its public support, ends the taboo around this disease. In fact the majority of the fundraising support I receive for this ride comes from my co-workers."

Visit Louie's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

Stephen Seymour, cyclist #1067 (San Bruno)

For more than 20 years Stephen has had an interest in working with organizations or on his own to help make the lives of people inflicted with HIV or AIDS a little better. This year he will ride again on Team FedEx.

"I watched some of my closest friends and my uncle die from this horrible disease. This ride brings so many people together to raise badly needed funds for two organizations who depend on this money to provide services to those that might not get them otherwise. This ride is made up of thousands of people who don't only talk about making a difference, but actually take 7 days of their valuable time each year to make that difference. Spending time with people who are as committed to this brings hope to us all that one day through our efforts we may collectively see a cure for this horrible disease."

Visit Stephen's AIDS/LifeCycle homepage.

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