Why I'm doing this ride
I think now's the perfect time for me to explain my own personal reason for undertaking the AIDS/LifeCycle. About two and half years ago, I had an epidural abscess caused by MRSA for which a laminectomy was performed from my T3-T9 vertebrae. That's the technical jargon for what happened. In layman's terms, I had a MRSA infection along 10 inches of my spine. I was lucky enough to go to the hospital when I did, as the infection was also active in my blood and was spreading into my lungs. I was temporarily paralyzed and stayed in the hospital for a month. It was quite an experience and I am very lucky to have recovered to where I am today.

You might wonder, "How does one go from being paralyzed to being an avid cyclist?" In physical rehab, I asked specifically to be put on a stationary bike. I felt I would enjoy it, and the fact that it put little stress on my back was definitely a plus. Needless to say, I caught the cycling bug!

This brings me to the AIDS/LifeCycle, which I view as a closure of sorts for my whole ordeal and as a testament to my recovery. I did not heal overnight or over a couple months--in fact, I don't think I will ever be back to my original self. My legs still act funny at times. I wake up and they are stiff. They shake when under a constant force--like if I'm standing still. Even now, I wake up and can tell my legs are not the same, but I can honestly say that I was not able to cycle 545 miles before my ordeal. Now, I think I can. I was lucky enough to have a perfect storm surrounding me as I dealt with my fiasco. I had boundless support from my family, healthcare that paid for my treatment, and treatment that cured my disease. This is not the case with many people who struggle with HIV/AIDS.

So please join me on my journey of not only my recovery, but of something much bigger. I am not cycling for just my own gratitude, but to help people without what I was lucky enough to have: support, medicine, and a cure. As I have said many times before, HIV/AIDS is a purely preventable disease. With education and support, we can stop and reverse its progression. And with more research, those with it can live more fulfilling lives.

Thanks for your time and support,
Jason Saldarriaga

by Jason Saldarriaga on Sat, Apr 18, 2009 @ 10:21 AM

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Oh yeah--this site
I forgot I had a blog thingy here. I have been sending out personal emails this whole time! In any case, I hope you all are doing well! I know I am. I have been cycling my butt off training for the 7-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles--all in the name of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness! Instead of cycling 35 miles every two days like I was, I have been grouping them together while increasing the distance. 45 miles or so, two days in a row. One or two days off a week. And yet I will be increasing this dramatically in the coming days. I am also going to some spinning classes at UF, which should help with the hills. Adding some cross-training in there for good measure--huge legs and no arms just does not compliment anyone. I'm doing all I can to ensure I am prepared for the 545 miles!

But I need your help. So far I have raised $1740, but that is $1260 short of my goal of $3000. And I have less than a month to do it! Please donate now. It's fast. It's easy. You can use a credit card. It can be anonymous or not. Your donations go towards HIV/AIDS counseling, medication, community outreach, and education--even homeless services for those affected with the disease. Any amount gets me closer to my goal. If I can get 36 people to donate $35, my goal will be met. Get your friends involved, too!

by Jason Saldarriaga on Sun, Apr 05, 2009 @ 12:05 PM

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Happy New Year!
It's been a while without an update! Well I've been pretty busy. I finished a rather rough semester (with all A's mind you) and still found time to cycle and write music. I'll be posting a more exhaustive update soon, but for now I just want to keep everyone informed with my activities. I am back in Gainesville after the holidays and have been cycling off my holiday weight. heh
Please remember to donate! With the new year comes the time for me to actually actively fundraise. So again, please donate. All you gotta do is click on the donate button underneath my sweaty picture.
Thanks!
Jason

by Jason Saldarriaga on Fri, Jan 02, 2009 @ 2:30 PM

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The Horrible Hundred
Alright, I did it! 70 miles in "hilly" Lake County. It was cold, long, and at times I went the wrong way, but I got through it. Did I mention it was hilly?
Now I need to do a century. I find it kind of shocking that two years ago I was paralyzed and now I am cycling 70 miles without much difficulty. A lot can change in very little time.
Thanks for all the support!
Jason

by Jason Saldarriaga on Mon, Nov 17, 2008 @ 3:58 PM

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My first event
So I have already started training for the LifeCycle, but this weekend marks my first actual event. I will be cycling 70 miles on Sunday through Florida's "mountains" in an event called the "Horrible Hundred" (though I'm only doing 70 miles). You can find more information here: http://www.horrible-hundred.com/
I am very excited about this event! I will be doing it with an uncle, so it should be a lot of fun. I will definitely keep you posted on how it goes.
I am off to do one last grueling (in a good way) ride before Sunday. Wish me luck!
Jason

by Jason Saldarriaga on Thu, Nov 13, 2008 @ 4:55 AM

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