I was one of those 1,700 folks who biked from Minneapolis to Chicago recently as a fundraiser for AIDS programs in both of those cities.
It is difficult to describe th e ride, with its physical and emotional challenges. If you saw us ride into Grant Park on that Saturday, you saw us with wrapped knees and ankles but with huge smiles on our sunburned faces: We had raised $5.5 million solely by strength of spirit. We actually had made a difference in the lives of people who suffer from AIDS.
Many of us carried pictures of loved ones who have died. Others traveled with great adversity: one person wore a prosthesis; another propelled himself with his arms as his legs were paralyzed. Many were HIV positive, others had not trained very long due to work and family duties.
So for six great days, we pushed ourselves physically and mentally for something that we all believed in. The challenges of biking 470 miles in six days were all worth it.
Thank you, Chicago, for your encouragement and your pledges. Join with us as we work to eradicate this disease. And if you have a bike, sign up for next year!
