ju s t o u t ▼ july 3 . 1 9 9 7 ▼ 15
local new s
T
erry Bonnett will never be the same
after losing two lovers to AIDS.
R iding fo r a reason
Cyclists will pedal from Vancouver, B.C., to Seattle to raise
"Even if we found a cure today, it
couldn’t undo the pain and sense of
funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations
loss,” says the 43-year-old Portland
▼
man, who has himself been living with HIV for
by Inga Sorensen
nearly 10 years.
Both partners, meanwhile, died at the age of
43.
‘Turning 44 [in November] will be a mile­
stone for me,” says Bonnett, who works
for the Multnomah County Health De­
partment.
But growing a year older isn ’t
Bonnett’s only act of empowerment over
this disease. He’s literally taking to the
streets—on his bike—along with an esti­
mated l ,000 others expected to take part
in the first Ride for a Reason, a four-day,
200-mile bike trek designed to raise funds
for HIV/AIDS service organizations in
Oregon, Washington and British Colum­
bia.
The international fund-raiser, slated
for Aug. 14-17, was initially a two-route
event, encompassing a Portland-to-Se-
attle leg and a Vancouver, B.C.-to-Seattle
portion, with everyone meeting in the
Emerald City.
According to Ride for a Reason offi­
cials, the Portland-to-Seattle route has
been axed for cost-effectiveness purposes,
though Portland participants will be bused
up to Vancouver, B.C., tojoin with others
for the ride to Seattle.
Ride for a Reason’s concept was de­
veloped and nurtured by representatives
from six community-based HIV/AIDS
Terry Bonnett at his spinning class with riding partner Pat Foley (left corner)
service groups in the Pacific Northwest
and Canada.
will create “mobile villages” along the way for
“It still makes me so emotional when I think
Oregon’s Ride for a Reason sponsor- R ijer
riders to rest and enjoy entertainment. Meals, bev­
about how I’m still here though I’ve lost so
ing agency is Cascade AIDS Project, a
erages, bike support, hot showers, snacks, mas­
many,” he says. “It feels good to be able to make
not-for-profit organization that is the state’s larg­
a difference.”
sages, relief vans and transportation for personal
est provider of nonmedical services to people
belongings will be provided throughout the trip.
In addition to crafting an exercise regimen,
affected by HIV and AIDS.
Bonnett says he’s attempting to eat more regu­
Ride for a Reason participants are expected to
larly to keep his energy level up.
raise a minimum of $ l ,500 each in pledges. Fif­
Riders share
“Carbos, fruits and veggies—and lots of wa­
teen percent of the proceeds will be granted to
ter. It’s really important to stay hydrated,” he
HIV/AIDS service agencies throughout British
their game plans
says.
Columbia, Oregon and Washington, while the
As for fund raising, Bonnett says he’s moving
’m taking spinning classes and try to bike at
remaining 85 percent will support the work of
at a healthy pace, collecting pledges ranging from
least three times a week,” says Bonnett, add­
sponsoring agencies: CAP; Washington state’s
$5 to $250. “My co-workers at the health depart­
ing that his primary fitness activity—until
Bailey-Boushay House, Northwest AIDS Foun­
ment have been wonderful,” he says.
! now, that is—has been vigorous country western
dation, Chicken Soup Brigade and People of
dancing.
Color Against AIDS Network; and B.C.’s AIDS
“Which has given me a strong cardiovascular
ortland architect Tim Richard, 37, is trying
Vancouver.
system and muscular legs, which will be good for
to figure out how to plaster a tortoise, and a
Three-time Tour de France champion Greg
this,” he laughs.
hare, to his helmet.
LeMond is Ride for a Reason’s official spokes­
Bonnett and a co-worker who is a 10-year
‘T o reflect how I’m feeling each day of the
man—though cyclists of all abilities are encour­
survivor of breast cancer plan to do the ride
ride,”
he half kids.
aged tojoin the event, which features a rolling,
together.
If
you
were at the Pride parade, you may have
scenic route at a relatively leisurely 50-miles-per-
day pace.
"It’s a ride, not a race,” stress organizers, who
I
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PhysUian an d tfu ig eon
\ V )bsiptri^ ând
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1130 N.W* 22nd Avenue
Suite 3£0
Portland,
97210
I
n 1986, Kathy Beige, now 3 1, walked
from Los Angeles to Washington,
D C., as part of a national peace
march promoting nuclear disarmament.
“Maybe that tells you a little some­
thing about myself,” says Beige, a case
manager for Roots and Branches, a
Portland-based organization which pro­
vides services to sexual minority youth.
“I love biking and all that.”
|
Couple that with Beige’s desire to
^ help transform the world into a better
o place and it’s no surprise she commit-
^ ted to Ride for a Reason (though she
o professes disappointment over the can-
§ cellationof the Portland-to-Seattle leg).
Beige currently carries a caseload
of 15 young people whom she meets
with regularly.
She tries to bike to work a couple times a week,
“and since I travel around to see my clients, I get
in maybe 18 or 20 miles [on those] days.”
As for her pledges, she says, “Most of the
people I know don’t have much money, but it’s
been easier to raise the $1,500 than I thought it
would be. I have maybe $200 or $300 to go.”
Like Bonnett, Beige’s smallest pledge has
been $5—her largest, from her brother, was $200.
In order to get in shape. Beige has joined with
four others (including one person living with
HIV) to launch an informal team which meets for
training runs.
“Fifty miles a day over four days shouldn’t be
much of a problem,” she says, adding, “I’m just
hoping the tents are waterproof and the food
decent.”
For more information on becoming a rider or to
volunteer for Ride fo r a Reason, call
I-888-89BIKES.
R O S E N B A U M & A S S O C IA T E S
A u to B ro k e rs
Buy or
at
\ ' V/ ' * "
spotted Richard—he was the guy on the bike with
the iguana stuck to his helmet—a construct con­
ceived during his involvement in the recent Cali­
fornia AIDS Ride IV, which had cyclists churning
out a serious 100 miles per day as they pedaled
from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Richard says despite the rigorous schedule,
“there were lots of colorful things—costumes and
helmet decorations.”
He adds, “I thought it would be fun to do some
of that with Ride for a Reason.”
Richard, who is an avid hiker, cross­
country skier and cyclist, says he’s look­
ing forward to this event “being a fun
social activity that does something posi­
tive.”
He adds, “I don’t really know any­
one who has personally been affected
by AIDS, and I have to tell you I feel a
little delinquent because I haven’t been
involved. I thought this would be a
good opportunity to change that.”
I
I
y
Ed McMahon
\ jz L
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