Second annual AIDS Ride raises money, hope

Published: Friday, May 12, 1995

UCLA students, faculty will cycle across California

By Patrick Kerkstra

and Kimberly Mackesy

Daily Bruin Staff

Early Sunday morning, more than 1,500 bicyclists will depart from their camp overlooking San Francisco Bay on a week-long trip canvassing 525 miles of California pavement in the largest AIDS fundraising event of its kind.

About 470 riders participated in the first California AIDS Ride, which raised more than $1.6 million last year to fund AIDS and HIV-related services. This year, nearly four times the number of cyclists are expected to take to the road, including a number of UCLA students and faculty who have spent months training for the trip.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Both organizations offer programs and support for the AIDS community.

For many UCLA participants, the trip holds special significance.

Voltaire Tiñana, who helped organize Bruins participating in the ride, has personal motivation for his involvement. Tiñana's cousin passed away due to AIDS complications four years ago, at age 29. Since then, Tiñana has met two friends and a co-worker infected with HIV.

"They're going through a lot themselves. I can only imagine. I'm doing this for them," Tiñana said. "Each of the riders has their own story.

"I know that by mid-week my legs will be exhausted. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up to think about it," Tiñana said.

For Sheldon Allen, a fifth-year world literature and English student, the ride is more for personal gain than symbolism.

"When I signed up I wasn't thinking of the publicity. It was really just for me to have something to train for and look forward to," said Allen, who is HIV positive. "I think that there's a message that I'm sending unintentionally, but I don't mind that I'm still very healthy."

Allen added that since the ride supports a cause close to home, it has a special significance.

"I like the idea that I'm using the services (of the Goodman Clinic), and now the money will go back there. I've gotten medicine there for free that is normally very expensive, so it's great to see where the money will go."

Other riders said that they are participating in the bike trip for the people they know who have AIDS or HIV.

"Before I moved to Los Angeles, I didn't know anyone personally who had HIV or AIDS. It didn't really affect me in a personal way," said P.J. Henry, a member of the UCLA cycling team.

"But since I moved here, I've (made) two friends who have HIV. It's impacted me a lot more. I've really realized that this is a serious disease, so I thought that I'd do the AIDS Ride. If there's any charity or cause I could stand for, this should be it," Henry continued, voicing a common sentiment.

Participants from the UCLA Medical Center are joining the students, providing medical aid to the bicyclists.

To take part in this California AIDS Ride, would-be cyclists raised a minimum of $2,200 in pledges.

The course is strenuous. Bicyclists cover between 60 and 95 miles of coastal highway and small town turnpikes daily. Last year, as the cyclists passed through the different communities, they were greeted by well-wishers offering encouragement.

"Last year, little kids from school and their teachers stood alongside the route cheering the riders. People wore AIDS ribbons and (hung) welcome signs," said Mimi Fuenzalida, a California AIDS Ride office representative.

Organizations benefitting from the week-long event offer services related to the care of persons with AIDS and HIV.

"The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center has the most comprehensive one-stop center for HIV and AIDS in the nation," said Communications Director Jim Key. "This is the largest fundraising event to help our clinic, and it's incredibly important to us."

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation focuses on housing, prevention and counseling. The money from the fundraiser is critical to furthering the foundation's goals.

"Suffice it to say, it's going to be a large amount of money to fund some very vital services that wouldn't exist without it," said Joe Fera, the foundation's director of communications.