Hello to my friends and family -

I'm going to get a little personal here...and you'll learn a few things about me that you didn't know...but since I'll be asking you for money I feel you deserve to know what's in my heart and why I've made this very important decision.  

First, the immediate facts:  I have decided to participate in the AIDS/Lifecycle 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to benefit the LA Gay and Lesbian Center.  Government funding has been slashed, charitable contributions are way down, and there is a greater need now than ever before for us to do what we can to help.  The center provides critical services for people living with HIV or AIDS and important prevention education for those most at risk of getting the disease.  There are an alarming number of young people from all walks of life acquiring the disease and many times they have no support of family, no insurance, and nowhere to turn.  We need to help these people.  

Now the personal stuff:  I grew up in Wichita, Kansas. My mom owned a beauty salon down the street from my house and I'd spend many an afternoon there sweeping hair for a few extra bucks.  It was fun spending time at  "the shop".  My mom's employees were like family to her...and to me.  Most were funny, gregarious, full of life, and they'd spend a lot of time at our home for dinner parties.  I was 10 years old when everything changed.  One after another of her employees, of our friends, died nearly suddenly.  One after another was there one minute, and gone the next.  It was in the very early days of the AIDS epidemic and nobody really knew what was going on...other than all of these wonderful, loving, funny, creative people suddenly got sick and died.  Tragically, almost all of her male employees died in one year.  One person, Warren Jerpe, who had been working for my mom since he was a teenager, was spared at that time and moved to Los Angeles to open a salon.  He had told us it was just too difficult to stay in the town where all of his friends had died.  A little less than 10 years later when he was in his late 30's he came to our home in Phoenix to stay with us for a week to say goodbye as he was a couple of months away from dying from AIDS.  

I've given money to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center in the past and to other AIDS related charities, but I've decided to step it up this year.  I ride in memory of the ten employees and friends we lost in a matter of months.  I ride for Jim, John, Mel, Phil, Warren...I ride for them so we don't forget how deadly this disease can be if people don't get proper treatment and medications.  Back then there was nothing we could do....but we can now.  With proper treatment and medications  people with HIV can live relatively normal, healthy lives, but only if they GET that proper treatment and medication.  We can't sit by and allow people with HIV to go untreated because they can't afford the care.  Thank you for your support and for helping the LA Gay and Lesbian Center help others. 

(don't forget to check if your corporation matches your contributions--I know GE does--thanks everyone)