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AIDS LifeCycle participant Erik Walton on why he rode 545-miles: “AIDS will not be the boss of me”
The 2700+ participants in AIDS/LifeCycle 2012, the worlds largest HIV/AIDS fundraising event, completed their 545-mile cycling journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles this afternoon.
There are so many stories to be told by the thousands of participants. Here is one of them:
Erik Walton tested HIV-positive in 1989. On some days his major accomplishment was making it from the bedroom to the kitchen, as he was being killed by the disease that had taken over 300 of his friends. AIDS took the life of his best friend just 4 years ago.
(see video below)
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of posts this week about AIDS LifeCycle. If you want to ride in next year’s event, you can save $40 on registration by using codes GayStarNews or GIH by Monday, June 11. To register, click HERE.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Gavin Ward says:
You might want to change the title on from “…why he road” to “…why he rode”.
Tony Eason says:
AIDSlifecycle is ‘An Experience of a Lifetime”.
And with each 545 mile, 7 day bike trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles, I have learn something new about myself.
AIDSLifecycle 2012 – Day #6 – Lompoc to Ventura –
It was a very challenging & rewarding day.
My bike wheel became united with another cyclist’s wheel.
And then, I fell into the freeway pavement.
And as I assessed my bodily damage, I realized no bones were broken yet I had road rash on my right extremities.
And then, I invisioned my good friend of Bella Luxe, Lisa Hines saying, “if nothing is broken, then get your butt back on that bike”…..
And then I heard the words of Oprah Winfrey, “Vision, Focus, OWN It!”
And then I heard my mother saying “no one said it would be easy”.
Well, although it was mentally challenging, I continued with the journey.
85 miles later – Mission Complete!
Thank you to all of the riders, roadies, and cheerleaders who support the 2,200 cyclist.
15th California AIDS Ride / AIDSLifecycle Cyclist, Tony Eason