My reason to ride --

ALC 2012 - Halfway to LA
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Team Long Beach
We're on our way Goal: $10,000.00 Achieved: $4,065.00	Thanks to my generous sponsors Mel Elmer $500.00 Dr. Steven Sorenson $250.00 Patrick Doonan & Paul Thompson $200.00 Ian & Morgan Crump $200.00 Mr. Jeffrey 'Jeff' S Ballinger $150.00 Mom $150.00 Jennifer Pruett $150.00 Lisa De La Pointe $150.00 Tiffany Loveless Jonathan Kwok Scott & James Grimes $100.00 FC & Patrice Norton $100.00 Brian Steele Michael Grattendick $100.00 Mrs. Marion Satory $100.00 Melanie A Powers $100.00 Gloria Matusiak $100.00 Rosie's Long Beach $100.00 Harry Poplawski Mr. Christopher M Lion Anonymous $100.00 TLOVE $100.00 Mr. Keith R Mangold $75.00 SMART Rider #264 & #265 $75.00 Bob Duglin & Paul Pham $50.00 Elijah Hood Mr. Dale Ludwig $50.00 Jason Phil and Peggy Atkinson $50.00 Mitch Mason $50.00 Anonymous SMART Rider #272 $31.00 NPB602 $30.00 Jose Vasquez jr Jody Krieger $25.00 J. Michael Woods, M.Ed. $25.00 Smart Rider #883 $25.00 Kathleen Hill $25.00 Anonymous $25.00 Linda McKnew $25.00 Anonymous $25.00 Karen $25.00 Mike & Eleanor Stoller $25.00 DAVID LUM $25.00 Kevin Vinson Emily Stens $20.00 smart rider #270 $10.00

In 1991, I made a friend named David Lewis. I was just coming out into a world that I had no idea how to navigate.... and David seemed to be the only reasonable person IN that world. He was patient with me, and he told me the truth and gave me GREAT advice.

Six months after I met him, David died. This is how I learned about AIDS.

After David, it seemed that everyone I knew became sick. Some died. It was a scary and dark time in the world, and everyone was afraid. The world did little, because AIDS was viewed as a "gay disease".

Our community pulled together, and we took care of our own.

Eventually, research led to breakthroughs in medicine that allowed people to LIVE with this infection. But there is still not a cure.

This June, I will get on my bicycle and ride 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in ALC12:

I will ride in the memory and honor of David, and the other brave soldiers who fought against this killer and lost.

I will ride for those living today, who would die without the proper medication.

I will ride for those tomorrow, who will hopefully never know that this disease ever even existed.

Margaret Mead said "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

.... would you please help me change the world by pledging to my cause?