Alissa's story...
 
The AIDS Ride for me began as a personal and physical challenge and a commitment to do something for a friend who is living with AIDS. I signed up to ride my clunky mountain bike 350 miles from Raleigh , North Carolina to Washington DC and raise money for the fight against AIDS. I trained and rode many long miles. I asked and even begged for the $3000 that I raised. I showed up and I rode. But that is so far from where it ends. I have been so touched and my life so affected by the AIDS Ride movement and the AIDS ride community.  Nowhere else in this world have I found so many genuine, kind, loving, energetic and generous people united in a common cause....and spreading love wherever they go. After riding the 350 miles  in the DC rode --I knew I had to do more. When I moved to Texas the first place I went was the Texas AIDS Ride office. I wanted to be a part of that ride and connect with this amazing community.  I cannot tell you the bonds and friendships that have been formed from the seat of my bicycle. I have found incredible love on all levels because of the AIDS Rides.
 
I will be riding 560 miles in the California AIDS Ride 7 in June and hopefully my friend who I ride for ..will be able to see me ride into Los Angeles. He has been my inspiration for every hill that I climb on that bike. The struggles that AIDS throws him every day are so big in comparison to the rises in the roads I pedal. I will also ride 510 miles in the first ever Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride in August. This ride will be amazing because it is bringing together thousands of riders from all over the country (and possibly the world) to raise money to fund 4 cutting edge AIDS Vaccine researchers.  At first glance these seem like huge commitments and almost unattainable goals but they are not. What we as AIDS Riders are committed to doing from our bike seat is a token of love for our friends, family and the children of tomorrow who are living with this disease.
 
I know this is a hard thing to visualize, these AIDS Rides... but picture thousands of bicycles.all colors, shapes and sizes of people...pedaling, laughing ,crying, screaming and supporting one another for a common cause. People ride up and down steep hills to help other riders make it to the top. Thinking about this brings tears to my eyes as I type this. I hope that one day we will not have to have AIDS Rides because AIDS will be gone.but until then I will be pedaling my heart out to help those who live with this disease.

I believe there is a reason for everything and I believe in my heart that we were led to you and your work by a higher power. We feel that you can help us to tell the story and the impact of the AIDS Rides. Our vision is to work with you to create that story and possibly sell the story to raise money for the AIDS Rides. If you talk to anyone of the thousands of AIDS Riders in this country.. we have all been deeply affected and would love to see your version of our collective story.
 
 I have images, videos and memories of the AIDS rides that I can send, e-mail or talk with you about at any time. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I hope we can utilize your talent to make the vision a reality.
( Email Alissa at alissam@flash.net )

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