What is a Roadie?

A Roadie is a person who volunteers their time for the full week of AIDS/LifeCycle working on the event.

Roadies are selfless, dedicated and unbelievably committed as the all volunteer work force of AIDS/LifeCycle. For 7 days, these folks will dedicate their time, energy and hearts to waking up very early, going to sleep very late and being in charge of pretty much all the work that happens on the event.

This includes, but is definitely not limited to, setting up and breaking down campsites and Rest Stops, serving meals, pouring water, making electrolyte drink, picking up trash, parking bicycles, fixing bicycles, picking up exhausted riders, wrapping sore knees, giving massages, leading cheers, giving directions, hanging signs, marking the route, and just about anything else you can think of! In addition to all this work, Roadies are known for giving hugs, making us laugh, and generally keeping us all open-hearted and on our toes.

Oh yes, and Roadies rock!

"To Be of Use"
Marge Piercy

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

 Top 10 Roadie Fundraisers