Dear PosPeds Member,

Our application requirements are very simple all that is required is a ‘Letter of Intent’. Please include your email and phone contact information within the header of the letter. Your letter should at a minimum state your desired to serve on the Board, what expertise and background you would bring, and why you feel you would be an appropriate Board member. Provide prior AIDS bike ride(s) and/or AIDS organization(s) experience. You are welcome to include any information you feel would be appropriate for our selection process.

This call for applicants is open to ALL PosPeds members wherever you live; we encourage applications from members who participate in rides across the States and Canada.

(for the full Invitation for Applications click here…)

Treatment News: July 2010

Global Survey: Stigma, Isolation and Discrimination Still Pervasive

by Tim Horn

HIV-associated stigma, isolation and discrimination remain pervasive problems in the United States and other parts of the world and continue to have profound effects on people’s willingness to disclose their serostatus to key individuals in their lives. This is the finding of a global survey of 2,035 people living with HIV conducted by the International Association for Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) on Thursday, July 22, at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna.

Suniti Solomon, MD, director of the YR Gaitonde Center for AIDS Research and Education in Chennai, India, presented the survey results on behalf of IAPAC. The survey found that stigma, isolation and discrimination are first among unique obstacles facing people living with HIV around the world. There is no shortage of research indicating that they affect HIV prevention and testing efforts, along with initiatives to link and retain people diagnosed with HIV in care and on treatment.

(for the full article click here…)

NYC-DC Ride: New York to Washington (Sept. 23-26)

We’re riding from New York City to Washington, DC, September 23-26, 2010 to support the thrilling new AIDS research from the George Mason Lab of Dr. Yuntao Wu. His work has the potential to block the virus and its devastating effect on the human immune system. We’re supporting Dr.Yuntao Wu and his research lab by raising $200,000 to accelerate their work to decode how the AIDS virus destroys T-cells.

We are also delighted to welcome the AIDS Service Center of New York City, who continue to do exemplary work on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS. The NYCDC Ride is limited to an intimate group of 100 cyclists of all skill and experience levels. We welcome beginners and A level racers! Ride at your own speed and comfort level with the full support of our experienced road crew.

Braking the Cycle: Boston to New York (September 24-26)

A three day, 285 mile ride benefitting the HIV/AIDS services of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. A spectacular route from Boston to New York City from Friday, September 24th to Sunday, September 26th, 2010

About the Center: Established in 1983, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is the nation’s leading and most comprehensive LGBT community center. Through diverse health and wellness services, cultural activities and advocacy initiatives, the Center inspires LGBT New Yorkers at every stage of life to celebrate who they are, empower who they want to be and transform their world. To learn more, call (212) 620-7310 or visit www.gaycenter.org.

Anyone who has made it to the top of Quadbuster Hill on Day 3 of AIDS/Lifecycle probably knows, or at least has seen, Brian Hodes. He’s the guy standing, squatting, lying on his stomach taking shot after shot of riders who have conquered that mini-mountain. He captures smiles, grimaces and every emotion felt as cyclists crest that hill waiting for the reward of that sweeping descent. Brian makes his living as a professional photographer, shooting events and spending most of his time photographing in the professional cycling circuit.

But what many people do not know about Brian is that he shoots those Quadbuster and Evil Twins photos—more than 20,000 over the years– as a volunteer, and has also done so much more for not only AIDS Lifecycle, but to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS. Because of his dedication, Brian was awarded this year’s Stand Up Award……

Click here for the full article.

Over 240 HIV+ cyclists and roadies participated in the 9th year of AIDS/LifeCycle as part of a community of 2,000 riders and over 500 roadies. Together they raised over $10 million for HIV/AIDS services in Los Angeles and San Francisco and raised awareness of the disease and its stigma in the small cities and towns along the 545-mile route.

Los Angeles PosPed Board Member Tom Keep and Kaya Dzambic, a PosPed now living in the Bay Area but originally from Kenya made the keynote speeches on Day 3 in Paso Robles.

Before they spoke, PosPeds presented a moving video that highlighted the events across the country on PosPeds Day, April 30. Check out the video here!

Now that your training for your Aids Ride is over and the likelihood of you sitting on the couch watching the Tour de France or Major League Baseball is high, I think it would be a good time for weight lifting/interval cardio training. After months of the same movements training for the ride, your body becomes extremely efficient performing those movements and while that is great for the Aids Rides, it limits the amount of overall fitness…

Click here for more training tips.

Positive Pedaler Day proclamations and recognitions were enacted across the country: in the cities of New York, Minneapolis, Austin, Texas, San Francisco, West Hollywood, CA, and the States of New York, New Jersey, and the State of California!

The tireless and determined efforts of Grady Shawn Allison and many other PosPeds across the country made this day possible. This effort has generated new activity and interest in the work of Positive Pedalers, and has taken us another few giant steps in the path to eliminate stigma of HIV/AIDS.

Please click here to read more about this great day.

Doreen Gonzales is not your stereotypical activist. She’s a shy woman with an unassuming presence and a peaceful, quiet demeanor. Her voice is more suited for reading a bedtime story to your children as they drift off into a peaceful slumber. In spite of this, she commands your attention when she describes her experience riding with the Positive Pedalers and the AIDS/LifeCycle Annual ride. The AIDS/LifeCycle website answers the question, “Why We Ride?” with the following tag line: “We ride to raise awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among participants, their donors, and the general public.” If ever there was a human being more suited to achieving this awesome goal, Doreen tops the list.

(more…)