Ducky’s Big AIDS Ride 2008
Ducky’s Big AIDS Ride 2008
Braking The Cycle
3 Days ~ 275 Miles ~ 1 Really Sore Ass!
This September I’m riding my bike almost 300 miles from historic Gettysburg to New York City in hopes of raising funds and awareness to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. This is my 5th AIDS Ride and I need your help!
It’s time to dig deep into your wallets and help me raise $3,500 before September 2008!
All of the proceeds go to Braking The Cycle’s beneficiary The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City.
Over the past 4 rides I’ve raised over $15,000 thanks to family, friends, coworkers, bloggers, readers, and perfect strangers willing to donate some money with the hope that one day an end will come to HIV and AIDS.
HOW TO DONATE:
There are a couple ways to help me reach my fundraising goal of $3,500 this year. The quickest, surest, and easiest way is online! Once again BTC2008 joined with fundraising event site Kintera to create a secure online system for donations. It’s easy to do, secure, and it lets me know immediately that you’ve donated so I can come give you a big kiss or hug (your choice).
To donate to my account online, click here.
*If you find that the link does not take you directly to my page with my crazy face on the bike please and my name (Dan McCallum) on it, follow these instructions to donate to my account.
Go to BTC’s Sponsor a Rider Page. Enter my last name: McCallum and click Search. On the next screen, click on my name Dan McCallum and go to town with the donating!
If you prefer to send in a CHECK, please contact me directly for directions and a donation form to send your check into Braking The Cycle directly.
MY RIDE HISTORY:
September 26-28, 2008 I will participate in my 5th AIDS Ride. I began event riding in 2001 with a ride from NYC to Boston. It was incredible and hard as hell but the sense of purpose and community was unreal. That event, Northeastern AIDS Ride, folded and I began working on a committee here in Boston to create a new ride to fill the void NEAR left behind.
The AIDS Action Ride was the result and after almost a year of planning, we found ourselves on the roads and raising money for AIDS Action here in Massachusetts.
The following year, the ride was renamed Mass Red Ribbon Ride and once again we took to the streets and rode from the Berkshire Mountains at the Western border of Massachusetts to the shores of the ocean in Salem. I called the ride “From Woods to Witches” but noone seemed to want to take that on as the new name.
I took the following year off to rest and give everyone I know’s wallets some time to gather green again.
Last year I decided that instead of doing another local Massachusetts ride, I wanted to branch out of my comfort zone and do a brand new ride (to me) by myself. I joined the great folks at The Center and Braking The Cycle, headed to NYC, took a bus to Gettysburg and didn’t know a soul. The community and the bond created during these rides really lends itself to making friends and quickly I was part of one nasty bunch of boys ready to have fun and ride hard.
This year we’ve created a team and joining me on Braking The Cycle 2008 are another Dan, Hector, Paul, Jim, Chad and Richard. These are my bitches boys and I love them dearly. They’ll make sure I ride every mile of that route and I love them for that!
AIDS INFORMATION:
AIDS is not going away. For 25 years, since the start of the AIDS epidemic, AIDS still kills. Every day, people are still infected with HIV. Here are some numbers:
In the United States:
- 425,910 Americans are living with AIDS (as of 12/31/05).
- 44,198 people were newly diagnosed with AIDS in 2005.
- That’s one new AIDS diagnosis every 12 minutes.
- African-Americans accounted for 49% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2005. They make up approximately 12% of the population.
- 74% of people newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2005 were male. Two-thirds of them were infected through homosexual contact; a further 15% were infected by heterosexual contact.
- 26% of people newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2005 were female. 80% of them were infected through heterosexual contact; a further 19% were infected via injection drug use.
- Since 1981, approximately one million Americans (956,666 as of 12/31/05) have been diagnosed with AIDS. Of those, 55% (530,756) have died.
You can learn more at www.cdc.gov/hiv
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CENTER:
Since its founding in 1983, the Center has been committed to providing HIV/AIDS services to the LGBT community, which has been profoundly affected by the AIDS epidemic. Center CARE offers individual and couples counseling for HIV-related concerns, as well as peer support through a variety of professionally facilitated support groups. Center CARE also provides referrals for case management services, primary medical care, legal services, housing needs, and other important health and wellness resources.
The Center incorporates HIV/AIDS prevention education throughout all of its counseling and support services, and hosts educational events and community forums addressing a wide range of HIV-related and other wellness topics.
The Fight Against AIDS
- The Center continues to be at the forefront of providing services to educate, support, and care for our community members affected by the virus.
- The Center provides 5,000 counseling sessions for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. All counseling services for people living with HIV/AIDS are free.
- Over 1,000 teens come to the Center for leadership training in HIV prevention, services and fun.
- The Center sponsors community forums, conferences, and commemorations, including the annual World AIDS Day vigil.
- The Center serves as the meeting space for many HIV/AIDS support and advocacy groups.
About the Center
Established in 1983, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is the nation’s leading and most comprehensive LGBT community center. Through diverse health and wellness services, cultural activities and advocacy initiatives, the Center inspires LGBT New Yorkers at every stage of life to celebrate who they are, empower who they want to be and transform their world. To learn more, call (212) 620-7310 or visit www.gaycenter.org.
BRAKING THE CYCLE VIDEO:
Here is part of a promo video from last years ride. I’m in it a couple times too bad each time I look like 70 year old man because I’m holding either an inhaler or I’m snorting nose spray. Seriously, it’s allergy city up in this piece.
*Don’t forget to check back often for new information and pictures as the months leading up to the ride unfold.
DONATE NOW and Help Dan/Ducky Reach His Goal of $3,500!
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