The 12th annual Ride For AIDS Chicago featured 221 riders, and 84 crew members, for the two-day, 200-mile bicycle ride July 11-12 to benefit the Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) and community partners.
Only one of the 221 did not finish.
There were millions of memories, hundreds of thousands of dollars raised, and tears galore, particularly from the one rider—Carl Branch, 49, of Oak Park—who only completed about 160 miles due to a crash he suffered on the first day, which led to a dislocated shoulder.
But Branch, who is openly gay, married, HIV-positive for about 30 years, and a former TPAN client and now a member of TPAN's board of directors for about three years, was just as emotional and proud as anyone … just probably in a bit more pain, too.
Branch was about 75 miles into the Ride on Saturday, peddling about 20 MPH uphill at the time when he struck a garbage can. He landed on his shoulder, has an abrasion on his elbow, an injured groin and knee.
"I was shaken," when I first went down, said Branch, who finished all 100 miles on Saturday. He popped his shoulder back into place after the wreck.
Branch rode the final 60 miles on Sunday through "a lot of pain, but I was determined," to cross that finish line.
"The Ride was life transforming for me," said Branch, whose Ride training started indoors this past January and moved outdoors in April.
TPAN president Patti Capouch, who served on the crew for the Ride, said Branch was "amazing, truly an inspiration to everybody."
More than 400 attended the closing ceremony, and as some of the last riders were crossing the finish line, Capouch said that more than $577,000 had been raised—and she expected that total to ultimately surpass $600,000.
"We had [returning] riders tell us that this was one of the best Rides that they've ever been involved in—and that feels great to hear," Capouch said. "The weather was perfect and there was so much camaraderie."
Tony Torres, one of the Ride leaders, tagged the 2015 Ride as, "another successful year."
"[I am] so proud of the RFAC executive committee, focusing on safety, training and satisfaction of every rider," Torres added.
Robert Garofalo, a return Rider from Chicago, said the event was, as always, "exhausting and exhilarating." He added, "[It was] just amazing … people working hard and giving of themselves to help others. As someone who is HIV-positive and has a good job and health insurance and supportive friends and family who support me even when I mess up in life, the Ride is not about me. The clients that TPAN serve often do not have those luxuries. TPAN sees community members affected by HIV that no other agency in Chicago wants to or does well. The Ride is for them and the services they need and deserve. I'm so proud to be part of the Ride for AIDS Chicago family and God willing I will be for many years to come."
Meg Valentini of Oak Park cycled in her fifth Ride, along with her husband, Fred. They are part of the Ride's executive committee and have a gay son.
"The entire weekend went off without a hitch," she said. "The weather was perfect; crew was present in cheerful abundance, keeping the riders safe and motivated at every turn. Riders, new and returning alike, tackled those Wisconsin hills with a vengeance. The Finale Fest program with the riderless bike procession, escorted by the Positive Peddlers reminds us all why we were there."
Returning rider Rob Campbell, of Chicago, said the event "is an experience that makes an impact on your heart and soul, [regardless] whether you are HIV-positive or not, gay or straight, man or woman. Every year I finish the Ride, thinking it will be my last. But when I cross that final threshold I'm reminded of the soul-enriching experience, the team and event camaraderie and desire to make a change in this world that keeps me returning for more."
Capouch said she fought back tears 10 times or more—on Sunday alone.
"To see the riders cross that finish line, and see the emotions, it really is overwhelming," Capouch said. "It was amazing, truly an amazing event."
