Over 1,300 Riders and Volunteers Gather in Raleigh, NC for First Ever Tour de Friends; Four-Day Bike Ride to Raise Funds for HIV/AIDS 6/19/2003
From: Charissa Benjamin, 202-887-0500 ext. 17 or 202-415-4461 (mobile), Laura Rusu, 202-887-0500 ext. 25 or 202-285-3261 (mobile), both of Tour de Friends RALEIGH, N.C. -- More than 1,300 registered riders, Tour Corps (event volunteers) and support staff have made their way to the North Carolina State Fair Grounds to kick off Tour de Friends - a four day, 330-mile bike journey from Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC. Tour de Friends will help raise vital funds for three AIDS community leaders: Washington, DC-based Food & Friends, Richmond-based Fan Free Clinic, and Raleigh-Durham-based Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina. "I know I speak for everyone involved in saying how proud we are to have created a locally-run event focused on HIV/AIDS," said Mickie Ballotta, Executive Director of Tour de Friends. "We cannot express how grateful we are for the commitment of more than 1,300 individuals who have dedicated so much time and effort to this event. We are truly excited and wish all of our riders and tour corps a safe and memorable journey." Dedicated riders and volunteers from Raleigh-Durham, NC, Richmond, VA, Washington, DC, and surrounding areas have already expended enormous efforts in order to raise the required $2,500 to participate. After months of fundraising and training, often in this spring's rain, they are set to make the journey together. Riders will average about 80 miles a day, traveling at their own pace and will be supported by the volunteer crew who provide hot meals, water and snacks at rest stops, gear transport, hot showers and medical services. "Three hundred-thirty miles is a challenging distance for anyone to ride in the middle of June, especially if you don't have any real cycling experience," said Ashley Christensen, a chef at Enoteca Vin, a local Raleigh restaurant, and the highest fundraiser for the Tour, bringing in over $41,000 in donations. "But it's the least I can do for such a worthy cause." Roger Striffler, a rider who is a software developer in Research Triangle adds, "anybody can ask you for money, but riders for Tour de Friends are willing to work for it. They spend months of time training and fundraising in order to spend four grueling days on the seat of a bike -- all so that they can help those who spend every day fighting the battle against AIDS." As we enter the third decade of HIV/AIDS, the disease has not gone away, but rather affects many people in our own communities. Each day four people contract HIV in North Carolina; two of them are under the age of 25. "This year the Raleigh-Durham metro area will see 300 new HIV/AIDS cases, each representing a client, friend and neighbor of ours," said Bill Brent, Executive Director of Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina. "We are excited to help lead Tour de Friends and we're grateful for the dedication and hard work of the Tour de Friends staff, riders and volunteers who have helped us continue our mission of serving North Carolinians living with HIV and AIDS." Through the consolidation of three AIDS service organizations in 1999, the Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina has become the largest AIDS service agency in the Carolinas. Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina is one of the most effective and resourceful primary providers of care programs and services for more than 1,000 people living with HIV/AIDS while providing prevention education and awareness to thousands of North Carolinians. The Tour will begin in Raleigh today and end on Sunday, June 22, 2003 in Washington, DC. Following is a schedule of points of interest as the Tour passes through North Carolina on Thursday, June 19, 2003. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET -- Raleigh Registration/Opening Ceremony: Jim Graham Building, North Carolina State Fairgrounds 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET -- Cheering Station: Mt. Olivette Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET -- Cheering Station: Church of the Crossroads, Youngsville, NC 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET -- Cheering Station: Sulphur Springs Church, Warrenton, NC 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET -- Cheering Station: Warrenton Town Square, Warrenton, NC 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Lunch Stop: Trinity United Methodist Church, Warrenton, NC 5 p.m. ET -- Camp: Warren County HS & MS Complex, Warrenton, NC Editor/Reporter Note: Photo and interview opportunities available with riders, volunteers, and organization spokespersons. Photo opportunities for "ride-out" also available, as hundreds of participants on bicycles leave Raleigh. To set up an interview with riders or other spokespersons you must contact Charissa Benjamin or Laura Rusu at the contact information above. For the safety of participants, all media on the event must check in with media relations staff to obtain a pass and safety guidelines. ------ About Tour de Friends In 2002 Food & Friends founded Tour de Friends, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the effective management of fundraising events benefiting people living with HIV/AIDS. The first ever Tour de Friends four-day bike ride will take place June 19-22, 2003, and benefit Food & Friends in Washington, DC, Fan Free Clinic in Richmond, VA, and the Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina in Raleigh-Durham, NC. More than 1,000 riders and volunteers will ride or work their way 330 miles from Raleigh to Washington, DC. For more information on Tour de Friends, visit http://www.tourdefriends.com, or call 202-742-RIDE. Many thanks to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center - University of Maryland Medicine, the Official Medical Sponsor of Tour de Friends, American Airlines, the Official Airline of Tour de Friends, Trek Bicycle Corporation, the Official Bike Tech of Tour de Friends, A&D Insurance, CLIFBar, Rock-It! Media, Inc., The Paxton Companies, Washingtonpost.com, and DC101 - Elliott in the Morning. About Alliance of AIDS Services -- Carolina Through the consolidation of three AIDS service organizations in 1999, the Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina has become the largest AIDS service agency in the Carolinas. Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina is one of the most effective and resourceful primary providers of care programs and services for more than 1,000 people living with HIV/AIDS while providing prevention education and awareness to thousands of North Carolinians. For more information on Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina, visit http://www.aas-c.org. About Fan Free Clinic Since 1970, Fan Free Clinic has provided continuous service in the Richmond area and Central Health Region as Virginia's oldest and largest free clinic. Services are provided free of charge by volunteer and paid professionals assisted by community volunteers. In 1983, services were expanded to initiate central Virginia's response to the emerging epidemic of AIDS. Fan Free Clinic is currently the community-based organization providing the largest and most comprehensive array of HIV support services in the Greater Richmond area. For more information on Fan Free Clinic, visit http://www.fanfreeclinic.org. About Food & Friends Food & Friends is the only organization in the Washington Metropolitan area providing home-delivered meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Since 1988, Food & Friends has provided nearly 6 million meals to more than 7,800 individuals. The service area encompasses approximately 6,800 square miles including the District of Columbia and 14 counties of Maryland and Virginia. For more information on Food & Friends, visit http://www.foodandfriends.org | |