Taking It To The Next Level

Why is my helmet never on straight?

There I am getting ready to set off on another training ride this morning (and, gear sponsors, look how much I'm geared up thanks in part to your assistance!).

This weekend I focused on my commitment to ride. And I completed over 60 miles in two days. But we all know I've made another commitment. I took a break from it this weekend but, part of riding in AIDS/LifeCycle means...

Fundraising.

When I first heard that word, somewhere between my ears and my brain it twisted & morphed itself into, "Begging."

Money has never been a thing for me. I've usually had enough... even when I first went into non-profit work and made 19K a year I survived. I had to live with three others and get rid of the Mustang when I took that position but the rewards of the job were worth it. As I've gotten older and my career and income have grown, my frugal habits have continued. Even now, I still have a roommate. I have three bedrooms in my house - that's two more than I need. Point is, asking for money has never been my thing. Even working at non-profits I was so glad there were people like Mark who was our Director of Development at Howard Brown Health Center. At Cascade AIDS Project, budgets were tight... all the time. And when we held a training for our community educators, I was tasked with acquiring food & beverage donations from the community. If asking Starbucks to provide a gallon of coffee for a volunteer training was difficult for me, just imagine what it's been like asking my friends, family and colleagues to join forces to donate $5,000.

But I did it because that was part of the commitment I made. The minimum requirement for ALC riders is 3K but I gathered my strength and chose to set a goal of 5K. I'm sure after you've read some of these stories, you understand my reasons for that, as well as my faith in the huge community I've grown to know over the years. And y'all have made it so rewarding and easy and wonderful and inspiring. The fear has dissipated. It's not begging. It's realizing the power in community. The strength in family. The simplest ideals of sharing, caring, supporting & giving.

Well team (that's how I've come to think of you since you are all with me each and every pedal stroke!)... because of you, that goal of $5,000 doesn't seem so lofty. Not sure why. Might have something to do with the fact that we're only six weeks into fundraising and we're already 84% of the way there. $4,175 as I write this. And ranked in the #9 spot for the Top ALC12 Fundraisers. How did y'all do it?

Cleve Jones
Co-founder of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation

I think you did it because you know the importance of this cause. I've already written about causes and when it comes to illnesses, contributing to HIV services has fallen in ranks over the past decade. In recent years, cancer events have become the cause du jour. And I get it. My mom was just diagnosed with skin cancer. A long-time friend just lost his husband to lung cancer three weeks ago. Cancer sucks. And we should support those causes. HIV - well, people are living longer. They have all these new treatments. Everyone knows how to protect themselves from it. And it is completely preventable. Like 100% preventable. The blood supply is safe. Condoms and clean needles protect users from HIV and a multitude of other things. They've even developed something called PEP - post-exposure prophylaxis - which can be taken after being exposed and significantly reduces the chances of acquiring the virus. It's easy to think there's just not as much reason to support AIDS Service Organizations anymore.

But you, my sponsors, know that's not the case. Because the numbers speak to a much different story:

• People are still getting infected. Like 50,000 people each year here in the U.S.
• One-in-five people don't know they're infected. Often because they can't afford a test. Or they don't think it could happen to them. By decreasing this number through testing & education programs, we can also decrease that first number - those 50,000 infections.
• The new medications are the closest thing to a miracle in a pill. Since protease inhibitors were introduced in the mid-to-late 90's, I've lost fewer friends than I lost in one year in 1996. But these medications are expensive (remember, my pill is $65 a day). Not everyone has access to insurance. And, even with medications, people are still losing the battle - it's still the third leading cause of death in the black population ages 35-44 and the fourth leading cause in the Hispanic population in that same age group.
• How do you go from "living like you're dying" to "living like you're living?" These treatments have made this a huge question for many of us. I didn't think I'd make it past 30... and the statistics at the time agreed with that. Support, counseling, and education go a long way to helping people rework their life for such an immense change. And help us to start living again.
• Side-effects. Ugh. Yes, our lives have been saved. But for how long? Did you know I had my first angiogram at 37? Yep. Because the medication I'm on - and many of the other treatments - seem to contribute to an added strain to the heart. The reason I went on my vegetarian diet - my cholesterol - my also be a side effect of the medications. At least it is a direct contributor to increased cholesterol levels for 20-25% of patients taking it. But at least I get fun, vivid dreams out of it!

Yes. HIV is still a thing. Obviously, I live it every day. And you sponsors have definitely shown you understand that through your phenomenal support & contributions. If you didn't know, donations for the ride go to two organizations - and since I'm an out-of-state participant, contributions from my sponsors are evenly distributed between the agencies.

Candlelight Vigil in San Francisco, remembering those we've lost.
Click on the image to enlarge and view President Obama's support of the cause.

San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the LA Gay & Lesbian Center were two of the first responders to the epidemic. Hell, they started before AIDS was even AIDS. Before HIV was even identified in a laboratory. We're talking back in the day when it was "Gay Cancer" or GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency). These men - and yeah, they were mostly men - joined forces to create these organizations and help their brothers. They had no funding. No support outside the community. And they did this because their own friends were getting sick and dying. The President of the United States didn't even talk about it... didn't even utter the word AIDS. Talk about joining forces. Showing the power of community. This group that banded together in the early 80's... they are heroes.

Vision Statement from LAGLC Annual Report

And these organizations continue to carry that torch today. They're not just mostly men anymore. They represent the entire community affected by HIV & AIDS. They serve, support, educate, and assist all. They've not only made life better for those affected by this illness, they've lobbied for many things that have expanded support, research, testing, and breakthroughs for a myriad of other illnesses and disabilities. Their strength gives me strength to ride for them. With them.

As I was writing all that I was thinking, "What the hell? So many of my blog readers - all 40 of them - have already contributed. I don't need to explain how important this is." I am forever grateful for everyone's assistance. Have even wept as I saw the outpouring of support.

Then I realized, I wrote it because we're not done. Remember our goal isn't to raise $5,000. It's to end HIV & AIDS - forever. And we still have eight months to work together, reach out further to our communities and take a step closer to that goal.

At the time of this writing, 10% of my friends on Facebook have joined the team and become sponsors. That means I still have 90% of my Facebook friends to reach out to. And each of them have all of their friends. Remember the old, "...and she told two friends, who told two friends" commercial? Yeah. We can do that. And Facebook is just the most visible example of my efforts. Of course, like you, I have many friends who aren't on Facebook. I've written personal letters. Sent out emails daily. Thanked each donor with a personalized message, call, email or a card.

With eight months left, I've developed a road map to make this as big as big can be. And I'll be working with James, my cyclist rep, to ensure we get there. He did it on his first ride in only three months. Talk about inspiration! Can we do it in eight? Yes. We can. So in November there's a fundraising party in the works. Next spring, I'll be seeking donations of gently used items for a garage sale to benefit the ride (I need to clean out some clutter... you probably do too!). Just the other day, I signed up as a Pampered Chef consultant and will be donating all profits from those efforts to AIDS/LifeCycle (you know I love to cook - that's a  win-win). Today I joined a cycling club hoping that others who ride will understand the effort, believe in the cause and support it. There are also plans being laid for "Big Asks" to philanthropic organizations. And throughout the next eight months, I'll be asking this team to share creative ideas for raising funds, reach out further to their friends, family & colleagues, and push us to amazing new heights. I'll also be providing regular rewards and incentives (and some awesome - or maybe strange - surprises along the way!).

The shortest day. The longest is over 109 miles.

You've already joined me on this journey and you know I've committed to being one of the best riders during the event. Today I completed my longest ride to date... 41 miles at an average of 15 mph and I climbed nearly 1,800 feet. This is equal to the shortest day of the event (except my climb today was MUCH greater... Vegas is full of mountains!). My total so far for training rides is 325 miles, climbing nearly 11,000 feet. And now I would also like our team to be one of the overall Top Fundraisers for AIDS/LifeCycle 12. In order to ensure our team secures a spot, I've made the decision to raise my goal to $22,000 - 1K for each year I've lived with HIV.

This will be the one and only time I raise the goal. And it feels huge right now. Man, does it feel crazy huge. Teams that achieve these levels are part of a prestigious club. They contribute to almost 10% of the total raised for the event. And in doing so, they play a big part in keeping fundraising costs low and ensuring the most money possible goes directly to the beneficiaries.

22K is scary. But not impossible. Not even improbable - the top 25 fundraisers last year did it. And so can we. Look what we've accomplished so far. Right now we're ranked ninth in fundraising and only a couple hundred dollars away from the #8 spot. And we've already achieved 20% of the 22K! If we exceed the full goal - wow! Can you imagine how much we'll be helping the clients at these organizations? Can you imagine the feeling we'll have of being part of such an amazing team... the best team? If we fall a little short, we'll know we tried harder than any other community participating and we'll still have accomplished so much to help those living with and affected by HIV & AIDS.

Thanks again for all you've done. For the commitment you've made to ride with me over the coming months. To your belief that this cause is worth all we can give it.

Oh, and before I sign off for the day, can I just say something I haven't had a chance to share yet today?

My ass hurts!

(Images captured from the SFAF & LAGLC Annual Reports. Please visit their websites to read the full reports and financial information in depth)