When I moved to Atlanta in the early 1990s, HIV was the No. 1 cause of death among Americans ages 25 to 44. There was only one drug available, AZT, and that would stop working as the virus changed or mutated. We were all hoping for a vaccine but sadly I watched many friends pass away.

Those days were not easy and it took a courageous group of activits to pressure NIH to allow the use of experimental drugs as young gay men continued to die from the virus during the mid 1990s. It was not until the end of that decade that things changed with the success of a combination of antiviral drugs known as the cocktail. 

The drugs were extending lives but the side effects were many. We were all still hoping for a vaccine when in 2007 I discovered Action Cycling Atlanta, now known as the the AIDS Vaccine 200. The yearly event raised money for the Emory Vaccine Center and later on local non-profits like Positive Impact Health Centers. My first ride in 2008 changed my life and over the years I have had the privilidge to meet some of the top vaccine researchers in the world. I have vistited their labs, learned about vaccines and raised money to fund fellowships for future scientists that I am sure one day will make great discoveries. Their work has inspired me and we have inspired them to keep working on a vaccine for AIDS by telling them of our life experiences.

It pains me to see how vaccines and science have been villivied the past three years. The extoridinary efforts to have a highly effective vaccine for COVID 19 available to the public in less than a year is now undermined by many. The misinformation about vaccines and the villification of Dr. Fauci has resulted in many unnecessary deaths. 

I believe in science and I believe that every person deserves compassion. I am raising money for a vaccine as too many people are still dying of AIDS and I am raising money to provide hope to those living with HIV through the services provided by Positive Impact Health Centers. 

I ride to make a difference and honor my friends who are no longer with us.