What brought you to the Ride?
I’ve been HIV POZ since the mid to late 80s and have lost COUNTLESS friends & acquaintances over the years. Then in 1992, I suffered full bilateral pneumocystis pneumonia that almost added me to that list, and was told to get my affairs in order as I wouldn’t see the age of 30. Well, I’ll be 58 in November this year! Last year was 30 years after being told this, making riding that much more significant to me.
This is only my 2nd time as a Roadie. My very first knowledge of and participation in AIDS Lifecycle was back in November of 2004 when I had moved to San Francisco from Boston MA. I immediately signed up in 2005 on an old-school mountain bike which I was told was a bit insane! I was recruited to carry a flag in the closing ceremony and it really was one of the most AMAZING experiences.
The following year, I recruited my sister, who was living in South Florida, as a Roadie and she & I Roadie’d together on the Lunch Stop, which is where I met Dee MacIntyre who has been the Roadie Captain on Rest-Stop 3, which is where I will be this year. I participated as a Rider last year, and during my 16-year absence, I did participate by producing a handful of fundraising events and volunteer work with ALC between 2007 and 2012. I can’t wait to be back in 2023 as a member of Team Portland
What is your favorite Ride memory?
The wonderful sense of community and camaraderie and random acts of kindness 🥰 I’m still friends to this day with people from my first ride.
What is your top fundraising tip / favorite way to fundraise?
Be persistent, consistent, and vigilant while not making people feel overly pressured. I have a background in Night Club Event Promotion so I produced fundraising events at The Powerhouse Bar in San Francisco.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a 1st time Roadie?
Have fun and enjoy what you’re doing. It can be hard work but it should always be enjoyable. ALC has a FANTASTIC level of support so don’t be afraid to ask for it 🤗
Are you interested in sharing your story in the Roadie Spin? Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran, we’d love to hear from you! Click here to fill out our AIDS/LifeCycle Roadie Spotlight form!
