Still They Ride:
AIDS/LifeCyclers Break 20 Years of Records in the Continuing Fight to End
It's not over, not until we end AIDS, not only in America but across the entire world. It's not over, and that is why unless a cure is discovered this year, Honey Labrador, Ant and I will be joining the ride next year (as riders and roadies) so that we can contribute.
By Justin Reed Early, Contributor
Author, 'Street Child: A Memoir'; blogger, speaker, commentator and advocate
Jun 11, 2013, 03:12 PM EDT|Updated Dec 6, 2017
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It was 5:30 p.m., and Tamara was rolling a few hours late. She had been riding since 6 a.m. She had texted us earlier in the day to report an injured rider and her delay. She was sweaty and exhausted. I asked my friend, out lesbian and former supermodel Honey Labrador, to check her phone to see if there was an update from Tamara. Nothing yet.
We came to Ventura with another gay-mous friend on Day 6 of the seven-day AIDS/LifeCycle Ride to End AIDS benefitting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, to welcome our friend and join the evening's candlelight vigil. But it turned out to be more than a visit and vigil. Much more.
As we made our way to the Day 6 finish line, we saw a half-full box of cowbells on the ground for friends, family and fans to welcome the riders with ringing fanfare. There were only about 10 people when we arrived on the bike trail located on the sandy dunes of Ventura Beach, Calif. We settled into our standing position when something profound happened: We all looked at each other and were overwhelmed with emotion as tears began to well up in our eyes. We talked about the amazing success of the ride after learning how much money was raised to fight a disease that continues to take so many lives in our community and around the world.
As I spoke with my friends, we spotted bikes of riders heading our way and started our collective and authentic show of appreciation. Screaming "thank you!," "heroes!" and "welcome to Ventura!," the riders seemed to appreciate our sincerity and drove their bikes to our side of the trail to give us high-fives.
Our other friend, Ant(the comedian), began having fun with our welcome mission and lightened the mood by declaring to the riders, "Breaking news! The good news is we have quinoa! The bad news is they have extended the ride to Guatemala!"
We all looked at each other and laughed, knowing we were right where we were suppose to be -- in that very moment -- honoring and supporting some pretty awesome people who stood taller than most and who literally shed more blood, sweat and tears during this one ride than most people will in a lifetime.
But the reality of what they were riding for and had accomplished and, most of all, the struggle we still face was very much in our hearts and minds. Here are some of the staggering numbers:
