Why ALC?

I ride because HIV/AIDS is not over. We ride so that someday, we won’t have to.

Since the AIDS/LifeCycle bike ride started in 2002 (San Francisco AIDS Ride in 1994), my husband and I donated to all our friends requesting the support. At that time we were both working full-time non-profit and corporate jobs and did not have the flexibility for the months of training and the 7-day ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) uses donations immediately to help the community through education, advocacy, and free local services for prevention and care. SFAF confronts HIV in neighborhoods most impacted by the disease and gives a powerful voice to all people living with the disease nationwide.

In January 2014, I finally decided to register, fundraise and ride for AIDS/LifeCycle 2014. You can read the details in The Decision to Ride for AIDS/LifeCycle.

2014 600 Roadies / 2,340 Cyclists
2015 619 Roadies / 2,396 Cyclists
2016 605 Roadies / 2,373 Cyclists
2017 699 Roadies / 2,232 Cyclists
2018 659 Roadies / 2,316 Cyclists
2019 650 Roadies / 2,220 Cyclists

That first year on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at 1:20 p.m. I rode into the VA center in Los Angeles with 2,340 fellow cyclists. Over seven days, we rode 545 miles from San Francisco. During that week, 600 roadies were utterly FANTASTIC in taking care of us riders. Besides the core AIDS/LifeCycle staff, most of the work is done by volunteers, known as Roadies, who give up a week to support the cyclists. They fed us, massaged us (every rider is entitled to 1, and only 1, during our week), attended to any medical needs, and transported our gear, tents, and support services from camp to camp seven times. What a logistical feat. #RoadiesRock

For AIDS/LifeCycle 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 my friends, family, John and I have raised $217,400 ...

• 2014, $30,840 to contribute to $15.4M
• 2015, $34,830 (plus $3,115 on behalf of team mates) to contribute to $16.6M
• 2016, $44,747 to contribute to $16.1M
• 2017, $35,559 to contribute to $15.1M
• 2018, $29,424 to contribute to $16.6M
• 2019 - $36,001 to contribute to $16.7M
• 2020 - what will we contribute this year?

These record amounts help many people living with HIV. Click here to see how your gift makes a difference.

As for cycling over the seven days, we would ride out anytime between 6:15 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. often in cold, foggy weather which transitioned into hot afternoons as high as 97 degrees by the time we rode into camp. I rode all of those 545 miles, climbing a total of 25,538 feet (that's almost 5 miles) with 33.5 hours of actual riding time sitting on the oh-so comfortable, tiny saddle under my derrière at an average speed of 14.87 mph.

I was sad when that wonderful week ended, but I was more saddened and ladened with a heavy heart when on June 4, 2014, our fellow-cyclist Edna Flores-Lagunte from San Francisco suffered a cardiac event while cycling. Her loving husband Richard Lagunte was riding with her when it happened. Edna passed away the following Sunday morning. She died doing what she loved most -- cycling in AIDS/LifeCycle, the highlight of the year for her. As her husband Rich shared, “to no surprise, her last act was to give the gift of life to others as an organ donor.” 2014 was Edna's 13th year as a participant in AIDS/LifeCycle, an event she loved deeply. She was a proud Training Ride Leader and helped prepare thousands of people in Northern California for the event. She has made an INCREDIBLE difference in the AIDS/LifeCycle community, and she will be greatly missed.

I remember Edna and Rich on my first training ride in February 2014 - Edna welcoming me with open arms, an infectious smile and considerable exuberance. I will miss you, Rich Edna - a name I gave her on the second day of our seven-day adventure in 2014, because I had sheepishly forgotten Rich’s name, again, and just called him Mr. Edna. When she reminded me of his name, I responded with "of course I’ll remember Rich now, because I will call you Rich Edna." So apropos because of the richness she gave to all.

Mary Vencill RIP July 29, 2017

In 2014, Mary Vencill was my first Training Ride Leader. I emailed her my reservation for a training ride and included my concerns. She responded almost immediately allaying any of my fears and welcomed me. The first thing she said when I arrived was, "You belong here. You can do this."

I remember reading her ALC fundraising page and sobbing profusely because it reflected her beauty, commitment and giving-heart. I shared with her my tearful episode on my second training ride with her. The following is from her 2017 fundraising page. Her 2014 page included some of what's found below. What isn't captured, but was in 2014 was her plight in beating cancer ...

"One more time! my 14th trip from SF to LA to fight AIDS/HIV

From June 4-10, 2017, I'm once again bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and making a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.

I'll do the hard part - getting trained enough to do this ride. You can join my team by giving what you can.

My first year participating in ALC, I was a "roadie" working on the Food Service team - my daughter made me do it! Within a few days, I had fallen in love with the event and the power of human kindness that permeates this amazing community. Somehow, I NEEDED to "reorganize" my life and learn to ride a bike. That was one terrifying experience - learning to ride in traffic and up hills is no joke. Especially at the age of almost-60!

That was 2004. I've ridden every year since then. Why?

Over the years I have come to know and admire and love dozens of individuals who are HIV positive. I ride for them. And I realize that they are the lucky ones - the ones who have jobs and medical insurance and the knowledge that enables them to stay healthy. In California alone, an estimated 7,000 new infections will be diagnosed this year, and roughly 1 in 7 people who are HIV-positive don't even know their status. Among those who are infected, so many don't have a life that enables them to manage this condition successfully. Our ride raises the money that brings the latter groups out of the shadows and gives them the help and hope that will save their lives. SFAF makes that happen. A very big deal.

Somewhere along the way, I actually learned to like cycling - it used to be something I "had" to do to earn the right to participate.

I want my grandchildren to grow up in a world in which the peril of AIDS is a distant memory.

I love it that my husband Dan volunteers as a roadie, as he has for 10 years. He's on the Water & Ice Team. He's one of 600+ people who work really, REALLY hard, supporting the 2500 riders, making the riders laugh, inspiring us, keeping us safe & fed & hydrated, and creating a “tent city” that travels south for a week. Roadies literally make this incredible and logistically-staggering event possible.

The stigma associated with HIV and AIDS is just plain cruel. I want to help make it go away.

This year, once again, I'm wondering whether this might be my last opportunity to do this ride. I'll be 71 years old. My cancer hasn't gone away, and at some point, it's going to start affecting what I can do. So I'm cherishing every moment of training and preparing - along with so many dear friends in this amazing community - to ride 545 miles. My life and family and friends keep growing more and more precious to me, and I hope to keep on enjoying them for a long time.

For twelve years now, I've been volunteering as a Training Ride Leader, helping new riders become confident and strong, and cheering them along the way. It's beyond my ability to describe - how inspiring it is to watch people transform, not only physically but in self-esteem and self-concept - blossoming from frightened and doubtful to strong and capable - taking on a non-trivial challenge and succeeding.

This year, again, I ride in memory of a friend and co-rider, Edna Flores-Lagunte, who died from a heart attack on the ride in 2014. I also ride for my friend, Aubrey Howell, whose brain injury (from a serious biking accident) kept her from doing last year's ride. She's working hard and we're waiting and hoping for news that she will be back.

It's a great cause, a profound experience, an inspiring community, a week of laughter, tears, empathy, aches, and lots of hugs.

I used to hate fundraising - asking people to part with hard-earned money can be daunting. But I've learned how generous people can be and how heartwarming it is when family and friends and even strangers join in this venture, and support a fabulous cause, along with me. I carry their love (or goodwill) and support (and ribbons inscribed with their names) for all 545+ miles. And that support somehow makes the miles fly by.

Here is where the money goes & how you can help:

$2,500 can help four HIV-positive people receive safe and stable housing situations for one month.

$1,000 covers a full year of medical supply costs for 55 patients

$1,000 funds one client receiving Post Exposure Prophylaxis

$250 provides Rapid HIV Antibody tests to 20 clients

$175 provides HIV prevention counseling sessions to 20 teenagers

$150 provides comprehensive HIV/STD testing to 1 client

$100 provides Hepatitis A and B vaccinations to 1 client

$25 covers the treatment medication for 1 client infected with an STD

$10 buys 143 condoms that Health Education and Prevention Programs will distribute

So...have I convinced you to join the fantastic army of supporters? Click on the link that says "donate"! Even the smallest amount helps. Or email me at maryvencill@gmail.com and I'll send you a self-addressed stamped envelope. I'll be hugely grateful, as will the thousands of people who benefit from San Francisco AIDS Foundation services. There are so many wonderful people in the world - thanks for being one of them. And come to the Cow Palace at 6:00 a.m (yes, it's worth getting up early!) on June 4 to witness the success and excitement that you are helping to create.

With huge gratitude - Mary"

For all the reasons I chose to join AIDS/LifeCycle in January 2014, I now participate usually as a rider (as a fundraiser for 2018 because I injured myself two weeks before ride-out in June) year-after-year to include honoring Edna Flores-Lagunte and Mary Vencill for as long as I am able.