 |
 |
(Left to Right) John Van Savage, residence hall director; Gabriela de la Vega, financial aid counselor, School of Law; and Steven Rush, adjunct faculty member, School of Nursing, all rode 600 miles from USF to Los Angeles.
|
|
AIDS Ride Kicks Off From USF; Includes Four USF Particpants
Approximately 750 cyclists—including four USF staff members—converged on the University of San Francisco campus May 13 for the kick off of the AIDS LifeCycle Ride, a 600-mile cycling fundraiser for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.
“We aim to educate persons like yourselves, who care enough to act so that others may enjoy a better life,” said USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. in a welcome address at the kick off. “I welcome you and I thank you for raising funds and our consciousness about AIDS.”
The three USF riders, Gabriela de la Vega, a financial aid counselor at the School of Law; Steven Rush, an adjunct faculty member at the School of Nursing; and John Van Savage, Xavier Hall residence director, trained for several months to prepare for the ride, which covers 115 miles on just the first day. Lorrie Ranck, coordinator of the Martin Baro Scholars Program, also participated as a “roadie” or member of the support crew.
“It’s grueling,” Rush said. “You train so you can enjoy the ride.”
USF agreed to co-sponsor the event after LifeCycle split earlier this year from its progenitor, California AIDS Ride, over a funding dispute. Riders registered at War Memorial Gym, watched a safety training video in the University of San Francisco Presentation Theater, and stored their bicycles overnight at the Koret Health and Recreation Center. The support crew were also fed in University Center. The university is discussing being a co-sponsor again next year, said Glenn Loomis, assistant vice president of facilities management.
Each rider in the event had to raise at least $2,500 through pledges and contributions. The three USF cyclists each raised more than the minimum by holding fundraising parties, writing letters, and asking family, friends, and coworkers for contributions. Together, their contributions totaled $15,000. The entire event raised about $1.6 million in San Francisco, said Cal Callahan, volunteer manager for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
The cyclists follow a scenic route from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Each night they camp in a place prepared for them by the ride’s support crew. The roadies provide lunch at pre-selected rest stops, dress up in different costumes for each rest stop, and provide nightly entertainment. Van Savage’s father, Stanley Van Savage, accompanied his son as a roadie.
Spreading awareness about AIDS, however, is the paramount theme. The cyclists listen to spokespeople from AIDS organizations, people living with AIDS, or fellow cyclists who are HIV positive talk about the disease. Riders also do their best to educate people along the route.
“We go through all these small agricultural towns and people want to know what we’re doing, so we stop and tell them about it,” said Rush, who has ridden in previous years for the California AIDS Ride.
All three USF participants said they rode to show their support for the locally sponsored event and for the inspiring experience. “The emotional high you get from seeing all these people doing it for one goal is really uplifting,” de la Vega said.
|
