Once again asking for your support

In 2023, I rode my bike from here to LA, 545 miles, with a couple thousand other people, to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS.

It was an amazing, wonderful, exhausting, life changing experience. One I would highly recommend to anyone crazy enough to ride their bike nearly 100 miles every day for seven days.

As most folks who have gotten a tattoo will tell you, immediately after you get one, you think, “well, this is cool looking but not ready to do that again any time too soon.” And then, once memory of the pain fades, you immediately start thinking, “I should get another tattoo!”

Which was more or less my feeling about the ALC. I was thrilled I’d done it, really proud of myself, and not at all ready to do it again any time too soon. With many other personal and professional things happening in 2024, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it this past June. But I definitely had the itch to ride again.

Then, a month or so ago, the announcement was made. 2025 is gonna be the last ride.

The reality of HIV/AIDS prevention has changed (in some very positive and other predictably uneven ways) since the first ride over thirty years ago. The organizers are no longer raising enough money to support the ride and support the organizations the ride is ostensibly meant to be a fundraiser for. I get that. Especially now, in my current role as the CEO of a small non-profit — boy do I get tough financial decisions in the face of changing realities.

All of which is to say, in June of 2025, I’m riding my bike from here to LA. And, once again, I am asking for your financial support.

Last time around, I was clear — doing the ride was very much a part of my grief process, having lost my brother in 2022. This time around, it’s all about the love bubble, it’s all about the organizations that benefit directly from the ride, and it’s still all about ending HIV/AIDS, the stigma around AIDS, and benefitting public health.

So, if you’ve got a few dollars to spare, help me raise at least $3500 to earn my ticket to ride. And, even better, my $5000 goal.

Click here to support me.

There are matching and corporate gift options. And feel free to share this post far and wide with anyone you think may be interested in supporting my ride and ending HIV/AIDS.

Thank y’all. You look fabulous today!