Heroes don't always wear masks and battle bad guys. Nope, the real heroes are those around us in everyday life who fight and strive to make a difference in this world and in other people's lives.
My current hero? My dear friend Even Fable.
Even doesn't wear a cape (often) nor fly through the sky faster than a speeding bullet. Nope. He's a human and a man who has spent nearly a third of his life fighting for a cause we both believe in:
The battle to end HIV/AIDS.
Every year, Even and 2200+ other bike riders cycle from San Francisco to the City of Angels in AIDS Lifecycle- a joint fundraising venture between the Gay and Lesbian center of Los Angeles and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Each year for the last 13 years riders individually raise thousands of dollars to take part in the ride. This will be Even's 11th ALC ride. He's individually raised over $100,000 through his decade plus of riding in AIDS Lifecycle. This is not an easy feat- it takes months of training, hard physical endurance, hundreds of dollars of personal money in equipment upkeep, repairs, etc., and lots of time fundraising to make the journey happen every year.
"It’s easy to think that HIV/AIDS is no longer a problem. Medications have come a long way, and people are living longer, healthier lives. This is why the work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is so vital. These agencies continue to provide the critical services and education needed to meet the growing needs of our community. We ride to raise awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among participants, their donors, and the general public. We ride because—in the current economy—our agencies need these funds more than ever. Ultimately, we ride so that someday, we won’t have to."
I am so proud of his efforts and would love for Even's ALC ride this year to be his best fundraising year ever! He just made his goal of $10,000, but can we help send him on his way with more?
To donate to his ride, please visit EVEN FABLE's fundraising page at:
Or go to www.tofighthiv.org rider #1667
AIDS and HIV have not gone away. This is a disease that affects us all. Nearly 40 million people have died of AIDS and there are currently 151,000 people in California alone living with HIV. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation and LA LGBT Center offer countless amounts of services--often free of charge for those who cannot afford it. AIDS Lifecycle helps keep these services--including access to medicine and care--available to everyone through the efforts of the Gay and Lesbian Center of Los Angeles and SF AIDS Foundation.
Together, we can fight this virus. Please donate today. I did. Will you? Thank you.
