October 2nd, 2007 mattdaddy
I just came back from my ride from Gettysburg to NYC and I had the most amazing time.
Picture 200 of your best friends, hanging out for four days, riding bikes 275 miles in beautiful weather. It’s an idyllic situation because everyone is there for one purpose: to spread the message that AIDS IS STILL HERE!!!
Braking The Cycle has been around for 5 years now, and this was my 5th ride all together,3rd with BTC. This was, by far, my favorite ride. I met some of the most amazing people, saw some amazing things, watched as people pushed themselves past what they could ever have been imagined, and was witness to the most amazing gathering of humanity I have ever seen.
AIDS isn’t going away anytime soon. AIDS is still spreading to people, and not always to the people you would think. AIDS is not just a gay disease, it’s a disease that anyone can get, and people are fighting every single day.
Each one of us can make a difference. The only bad part of the ride is that it doesn’t extend the other 361 days of the year, though for us who were involved and influenced by what we saw and experienced, we try to keep the flow of humanity, the shared experience of kindness and love, going for as long as possible.
Help me.
Help me help those who need it. Help me to spread the word that the fight against AIDS lives as people pass from this world.
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July 18th, 2007 mattdaddy
In the past, I have done a lot of riding for Aids research, Aids care, and to help Aids facilities. Why? Because I can. Can John Clerke? Nope. Can Jim Paluszak? Nope.
Why not? What’s stopping them?
They caught, suffered, and died because of Aids.
Matt, are you gay? Why are you riding for something that only gay people have?
There’s the crux of it. Aids doesn’t give a crap who you are, what you do, or anything like that. Aids doesn’t discriminate based on age, sex, religion, politics, gender, sexual preference. NOTHING.
I brought up those questions because I was asked them at one point or another. How can a relatively healthy 38 yr old, married man with 2 kids get on a bike and ride for people he doesn’t even know. “Does your wife know you’re gay” is one of my favorites.
Yes, I’m straight. Yes, I’m getting older. Yes, I was in an accident where I rolled my car three times and somehow managed to walk away from it. Can I ride?
No.
Am I upset.
YOU BET!
but the great people that are organizing the ride are letting me crew instead since the injury is making it impossible to ride. I’ll be the one handing out water, or driving the sweep van or 100 other little things to make it easier for the riders to have a good experience. This will be my first turn on crew and while I would rather ride, I have to listen to my body this time.
What does this mean? It means that if you are reading this, I’m still looking for donations!!! Please contact me to find out how you can help!!!
EMAIL ME
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