AIDS LifeCycle

4 ratings since posting on Monday, November 13, 2006
AIDS LifeCycle
in San Francisco
website
(submitted by tony )

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darla
darla
offline 7
*****
7 Life changing Days for yourself AND others
whether you choose to ride your bike OR roadie, this is an experience that WILL change your life AND others -- check it our for yourself! - darla , posted 08/11/07
*****
Example to pay attention to.
I cannot add anything but what you already wrote. thank you for your contributions, thank you for reminding us about the seriousness of AIDS. - , posted 01/10/07
tony
tony
offline 41
*****
AIDS LifeCycle - An Experience of a Lifetime - 575 miles, 7 days, 1,500 cyclist
Sometimes we want to help others, but we are so overwhelmed by all that needs to be done in this world that we don't know where to start. We hope that tomorrow or next week, when everything calms down, we will be able to become the actively compassionate human beings we know we can be. We put off goodness like we put off going on a diet.

On 01 January 1994, I realized that there was more to life than: guzzling an expensive bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay, being the belle of the ball, speaking of what others need to work on, and/or sitting daily in the same pose. So, I bought a 10 year old, El Dorado Bianchi Road Bike. And, I began a 6-month intense cycling training for a cycling event called the California AIDS Ride #2.

In May of 1994 (on Mother's Day), I left San Francisco with $3.00 in my pocket, no idea of how I was going to return, a questionable bike, the fear of failure, and began to cycle (along with 1500 other cyclist) toward West Hollywood, CA.

Seven days, 575 miles later, I arrived in West Hollywood. At which point, I realized it is possible to step outside of your normal routine. I realized it is possible to empower yourself while assisting others. I realized that I wasn't alone in my ideas of creating a better world. And, I realized that miracles can occur (after all, I made it back home with $3.00 in my pocket) .

Each year, I cycle 575 miles (from San Francisco to Los Angeles). Each year, I raise a minimum of $2500.00 to participate. And each year, I complete the ride knowing I did the right thing.

In June 2007, for my 10th Year, I will participate in an event to benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation called AIDS Life Cycle. Over the years, I have personally raised (thru nickles & dimes) over $42,000.00 to assist in research, and AIDS services for individuals in need.

Why do I continue to participate:
1. Supporting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (and it's beneficiaries) is a great cause.

Established in 1982, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community-based AIDS service organizations in the United States. The mission of the agency is to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV. To that end, they provide a comprehensive array of services -- including financial benefits counseling, client advocacy, housing assistance, HIV prevention efforts, needle exchange, and the California AIDS Hotline (800-367-AIDS) -- that directly serve over 100,000 individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. They reach over 1.5 million others through community outreach, public policy efforts, prevention campaigns, and the internet.
www.sfaf.org/

2. African Americans account for more than one-third of the cases reported since the beginning of the epidemic and half of all diagnoses in 2003... . ..

African American women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of the disease than their counterparts. According to CDC data reported through December of 2001, African Americans were the largest group of young people affected by HIV, and accounted for 56 percent of all HIV infections ever reported among those aged 13-24."

3. Participating in the California AIDS Ride & AIDS/LifeCycle changed my life... ..

In the beginning, I participated in the ride because I needed "something to tell the grandchildren." I wanted to be able to say, I did something good with my life. I wanted to be able to say "Yes, I rode my bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles. And as part of my training, I found the need to learn proper stretching techniques. So, I attended Mary Friedland's Yoga classes at 24 Hour Fitness. Since then, I've went from a bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay (a day) to teaching Iyengar Yoga Classes

4. Over the past 11 years, personal friends, family, corporate sponsors, and strangers have joined me in my determination to be part of the solution. Many of my friends have put down "the juice," and become philanthropists and athletes.

5. At the age of 42, I stare out the window and smile.

So whether: you want to have something to tell the grandchildren; you have the week off and don't want to cook; you enjoy being on your bike; you want to challenge your physical & mental abilities; you belive in the cause; or you just want to give back to the community . . AIDS/LifeCycle will give you just that ....

Don't put off goodness like we put off a diet. See what you can do "TODAY."

Wishing the best of all possible worlds,
Iyengar Yoga Teacher,
10th Year, AIDS Benefit Cyclist,
tony eason

My Life = ynottony1blogspot.com
AIDS/LifeCycle = aidslifecycle.typepad.com/alc5t...n.html
My Website = ynottony.com
Iyengar Yoga Classes = ynottony.com/yoga1.htm

Send to a Friend - tony , posted 11/13/06

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