I have been HIV positive for well over 25 years and have lost many friends. In a bitter sweet way it’s through the loss that I have gained so much. I participated in my first Aids ride in 2000 when I rode in CAR7. I was a TRL for CAR 8, I was a rider for ALC 6, TRL for ALC7, Rider and TRL for ALC8, and now I’m a TRL and a Roadie for ALC9. As I continue to enjoy good health I realize how important it is for me to allow others see me as a HIV positive healthy man.

I work in the Health Care Profession so I know all too well that there still exists stigma. As a survivor, I feel that it’s my obligation to eliminate the stigma and bring awareness to others when I can. I still see and feel “stigmatized” sometimes in my profession so while I’m cautious, I’m as outspoken about the disease as I can safely be. To that end I hope that one day we can end the prejudice about disease.

I am excited and honored to be serving on the Board of Postive Pedalers. The Pospeds group culture brought me laughter, comfort and also helped me overcome many fears on the ride. I hope I can share this experience while on the Board to help other HIV Positive people enjoy the ride. My first experience of fundraising bike rides was the original grassroots AIDS Bike-a-Thon in the Castro in the 80′s. This event totally changed my perspective just like the AIDS/lifecycle does every year. I am really grateful to be alive and also have the capability to be able to give a little back to a Community that has given me so much the last 25 years. Lets continue this great ride!!

“I am back as a member of the Pos Peds Board as of April, 2010. I originally joined the Board in 2005 as an effort to infuse the Southern California members with representation and served until January, 2007. I have been involved with AIDS/LifeCycle since its beginnings in 2002–eight years as a rider and one year as a roadie. And while I plan to take next year off from participating in ALC, I still plan to be very involved with the event leading up to, and after, the ride itself as a proud member of the Pos Peds, a Training Ride Leader (which I have been active since 2008), and as the captain of Team Baby Dragon.I have been active in the HIV community for almost a decade not only with ALC but also as a spokesmodel for the “HIV Stops With Me” campaign . The campaign is a multifaceted national social marketing campaign that aims to prevent the spread of HIV while also reducing the stigma associated with the disease. I am also active in recovery-based programs–most notably as a founding member of “The Baby Dragon Fund” which raises money to benefit the Mental Health Services, Crystal Meth Recovery Services, and programs for LGBT youth at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center in memory of one of my best friends, Hunter Allen, the original Baby Dragon, who lost his life to the disease of addiction. In 2009, we started “The Baby Dragon 180 Ride” which I am happy to report will be an annual 180-mile, 2-day ride held each fall to raise money for the Fund. In its inaugural year, we raised almost $90,000, and we hope to surpass that amount each year. I hope to have a strong Pos Peds presence on the BD180 Ride beginning in 2010.

I feel that being active HIV+ person is a responsibility that we all have to share, and if I can help just one person by my efforts, then I’ve helped to eliminate stigma and made the world a slightly better place in which to live for everyone–both negative and positive. And I encourage you to join us in our mission.”

Gordon joined the Board at the end of last year. His bio will be added shortly, stay tuned!

Scott joined the Board at the end of last year. His bio will be added shortly, stay tuned!

RJ joined the Board at the end of last year. His bio will be added shortly, stay tuned!

Robert joined the Board at the end of last year. His bio will be added shortly, stay tuned!

Clay Williams tested positive for HIV in 1991. His first AIDS ride was Braking the Cycle (Boston to New York) in 2009, which he rode again in 2010. Clay joined the Positive Pedalers in 2009, and is excited to be serving on the board of directors. He is passionate about HIV prevention, ensuring those who are infected receive proper treatment and support, and eliminating stigma by demonstrating the vital, productive role that HIV+ people play in society. He lives in New York City with his partner, David Groff.

I am honored to be on the Board of Positive Pedalers, representing the greater Los Angeles area. I have been HIV+ for over 10 years. A close personal HIV+ friend invited me to ride with him on AIDS Lifecycle 5 – I took up the challenge and how now completed the last 5 ALCs (2006-2010). And this last year I also became a TRL.I was a bit reluctant to join the Pos Peds my first year…..I wasn’t sure sharing my status with others was “good thing”. But once I became a member,everything changed. The group taught me the value of putting a face on the disease and that we as a positive community would never help overcome its stigma unless we unite together and share our stories. Many of us share that understanding we may have become positive as a result of some very poor personal decisions. But we can’t allow those less-than-fortunate choices of our past define the person we are going forward. We must choose to focus on the good we wish to share & the folks in our community who need our help and support – that is why the ALC community is an inspiration. ALC and the Pos Peds are amazing people fighting a great cause & I’m proud to be part of their efforts to support the HIV+ community, eliminate stigma and teach others the power of love, grace & respect. To echo the sentiments of another board member, there is power in publicly acknowledging that I am positive and that power has helped me find the strength and courage I need to fight and live with this disease.

David Duncan has been on the Board since 2002, and served his first stint as Co-Chair with Wilfredo Ortiz from 2003-06. David, along with fellow Board member Scott Campbell, was a San Francisco “spokesmodel” for HIV Stops With Me, a nationwide campaign to promote the active participation of positives in preventing HIV. David worked at UC Berkeley on the design and development of campus facilities for fourteen years; in 2005 he was diagnosed with an HIV related brain disorder and went on long-term disability. David was elected to a second stint as Co-Chair along with Shirley Jaglowski at last summer’s retreat.

“I was motivated to to get involved with ALC 5 when I lost my partner Robert Hale. Now I consider this the best gift Robert ever gave me. Because of him, I’m a part of an organization that has changed my life. I am a Training Ride Leader and thrilled to be participating in AIDS/LifeCycle until there is a cure. I’m honored to be a part of such a dedicated and hardworking group of people: the Board of Positive Pedalers. For me, this is a gift that keeps on giving.”

Nathan was Board Co-Chair with Beau Thomson for the last two years. Nathan’s bio will be updated shortly; stay tuned.

“I tested positive in 1987. I took up cycling in 1993 shortly after my wife died of HIV-related causes. I rode my first AIDS Ride in 1998, and joined the Positive Pedalers Board the following year. Positive Pedalers, like the disease that brings us together, has gone through many changes over the years, but has always remained central to my personal struggle with HIV. I’ll soon be leaving the Board, but expect to remain involved with this very valuable organization.”

“I have been HIV-positive since 1981 and have known my status since 1985. I’ve been a member of Positive Pedalers since my first California AIDS Ride in 1999, and was on the Board of Pos Peds from January 2001 through December 2003. As a “Board Member Emeritus;” I stay involved by maintaining our membership roster, trying to stay in touch with our members, particularly the newer ones, by email and leading AIDS/LifeCycle training rides as a Positive Pedaler.” bob@pospeds.org

Paul Serchia 1958-2010 (excerpt from Paul’s obituary)A bright, beautiful flame flickered out on March 6, 2010. Paul Serchia died this morning at a convalescent facility in Los Angeles. He was 52 and had been battling cancer since being diagnosed in January 2009. At his side were his father, Paul Serchia, Sr. and his sister-in-law Lisa.

HIV positive since 1999, Paul faced his HIV and cancer diagnoses without anger or self-pity. In his blog, Thinking Positive: a Blog About Cancer and AIDS he honestly and clearly chronicled his treatment and his thoughts about his life.

“If you didn’t know Paul you might think he’s putting on a brave face,” said close friend and former co-worker Dean Micheli, “but that’s really him.”

Despite illness that left him without the ability to speak, Paul never lost his quick wit and mastery of words. A stickler for good grammar, he never used abbreviations or short cuts in the notes he needed to write to communicate.

Before his diagnosis with cancer, Paul had been living with HIV, and he was active in organizations and causes relating to AIDS. Along with his position at APLA, Paul was an active member of the Positive Pedalers, a group of HIV positive cyclists who raise awareness and funds for AIDS/LifeCycle, a 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and other bicycle rides around the country and the world.

Paul is survived by his father, Paul Sr., his brother Michael, a sister-in-law Lisa, and two nephews, Philip and Stephen. And Paul leaves his two best friends, Dean and Ed, who have been stalwart in their support.