Eliminating the stigma...

The second part of the day was filled with a very emotional and life changing experience. It's been difficult to fully share, but I want my readers to really experience my journey at ALC.

After I arrive into camp, I had 2-3 hours, to put up my tent, shower, eat, catch up with friends and most importantly, write a short story, that i would be sharing with over 2,000 cyclist and roadies, about my experience with ALC-- what a honor....

I had dinner with my friend Frederick-- he sat in front of the auditorium to see me speak. I was able to see my friends from Team UTAC, who also watched me speak.

My experience with ALC has helped me, deal with my personal issues or conflicts. My training consisted of becoming a better cyclist, but also finding the strength, through other cyclists, to be comfortable in my own skin.

I was to do a short speech about myself that would transition into introducing Shirley- a strong woman that has been living with HIV for more than 10 years. Her story is VERY moving (you can read it online at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/hivpositive/ We had both heard each other's stories, and we share many common things-- and i was to finally meet her.

Sitting down with her was so comforting. She kept telling me, that i was a hero-- and surely, she was too. We cried together, watching the videos that the ALC staff put together, on those that have passed away from HIV/AIDS.

I was then introduced to the all the cyclists-- i go onto the stage, very nervous and share from the heart.

Below is the text that i shared with everyone....

"Just like all of us, we ride 545 miles to help those living with HIV/AIDS; we also take on new challenges, whether it's emotional, mental or physical. Facing our fears so we can overcome these challenges. Along with all that, some of us, like me, do the ride for self-acceptance of who we are. In April 2005, I was diagnosed with HIV- putting yet another label to identify myself with.

There were many times, that I would ask myself, Why me? i would then start to blame myself, because I got it during my drug addiction. I had to live a completely new and different life, for a mistake that i did.

Last year, a friend of mine convinced me in doing the AIDS Lifecycle. I was not sure I was ready to put myself through a new challenge; now I look back and I am glad i did.

In the Fall of 2007, during the ALC Kick-off ride in Los Angeles, I saw a guy, wearing a shirt that said, "I'm Positive". I thought to myself, "wow, he is young and is confident with his status". I approached him, still with fear of even asking for more info (regarding his shirt); he introduced himself as J.R. he was the first to invite me to a Pos Peds ride.

I decided to give it a try; the first time I rode with Pos Peds, I will just say-- i fell a lot! But, I was able to meet a group of guys, confident with their HIV status.

During the following months, I became closer with the group. Not only were they helping train to become a better cyclist but they were inspiring me to accept myself, for who I am.

On April 19, 2008, 3 years after being diagnosed with HIV, I rode with a shirt that said Positive Pedalers. I felt proud for wearing that shirt!

Thanks to the guys and girls of the Pos Peds team; they have helped me realize that HIV is not a mistake to live by. To me, I now see it as a gift in my life- it is what motivates me to live my life to the fullest, with no fear.

Thanks to you all, for believing that there is hope at the end of this ride.

Now, with great pleasure, I would like to introduce, a fellow Pos Peds member... Shirley"!

So, who are the Positive Pedalers? We are a group of people living with HIV/AIDS, eliminating stigma through out positive public example. (http://www.pospeds.org/)

Labels make a person, it does not break them. The sky is truly the limit in my life- nothing will stop me from living a better and healthier life. The strength and empowerment I was able to gain, from being part of the Pos Peds group-- along with the ALC family at whole, will continue to live on in me.

Imagine, living in a world, with no judgment-- it's hard to imagine that; well for 7 days, that is what I lived in-- A loving and caring world.

The next couple of days, all the way until closing ceremonies, I had various people come up to me, thanking me for sharing my story of my journey with ALC as a Pos Peds-- if you all are reading this, thank you for riding.. for me.

Writing this entry was not an easy thing to do- but I really wanted to share, from deep in my heart, what the ride truly means to me.