a personal plea

for the past 8 years, i have participated in a number of volunteer capacities for various aids rides around the country - this year is no different.

on july 13 - 16, i will be taking on the role of volunteer ceremonies director for the red ribbon ride presented by chipotle. the red ribbon ride is a 4-day, 300 mile bicycle ride through southern minnesota that raises valuable fund for 9 aids service organizations in minnesota. my role will be to organize opening and closing ceremonies for the 300 volunteer riders and crew on the event, as well as to arrange entertainment for them to make the miles a little less difficult. there's a lot of peddling involved in biking for aids.

while the world's eye is (understandably) focused on the emergency aids situation in africa, critical funding for u.s. based aids organizations is being drastically cut by our government. in fact, some of that funding is even being completely eliminated.

this lack of funding results in reduced - if not eliminated - services on the local level - services that are absolutly necessary to the people living in your own backyard with hiv/aids. services that can improve a patients quality of life, provide medical information and assistance, feed and provide shelter to those without food or a place to stay warm and services that educate the public. you would think that in 2006, we all would know how to protect ourselves from hiv/aids, but unfortunately - that's just not the case. hiv infection rates are on the rise all over the country.

as an example, due to cuts in federal hiv prevention funding, the governor of minnesota has decided that our state cannot afford the $135,000/year the minnesota aids project needs to run it's aidsline. (for more information about the specifics go to: mn aids project aids line and then click on the public policy fact sheet for the mn aids line)

the reality is that we cannot afford one less tool to stop hiv through prevention and education.

the red ribbon ride is a valuable money-raising tool for the mn aids project (and the 8 other organizations it benefits) - in fact, it's one of the most successful charities of it's type in the country.

i humbly ask you to consider donating to the ride via, my personal fund raising website. the funds are fully tax-deductible (in the u.s.). you can reach the page by clicking on the following link. red ribbon ride