The Willow Glen Resident

Glen cyclists cruise the coast in state AIDS ride

By Christine Frey

On Sunday, Willow Glen residents Sandy Satterfield and Renee Jones embarked on a 560-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

As two of the 2,500 cyclists participating in California AIDS Ride 5, Satterfield and Jones will spend seven days pedaling down the coast and raising money for HIV and AIDS services.

"AIDS is my cause," says Satterfield, who has a personal reason for her involvement: one of her best friends is HIV-positive. "I do it to make sure there's something there if he needs it," she explains.

California AIDS Ride was first held in 1994; its 478 cyclists raised $1.5 million. Last year, the Ride collected $9.4 million, making it the top-grossing AIDS fundraiser in history.

Each rider is expected to raise at least $2,500 in pledges. The money made from this year's ride benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.

"It was easier training than it was to raise that kind of money," says Satterfield, who will turn 40 one week after the ride.

Since January, Satterfield has been cycling through the Almaden Valley, up Highway 9 and to Vasona in preparation for the ride. A physically active person, Satterfield has not had difficulty training. However, the rainy weather proved to be a problem. "It hasn't been a great year to train," she says.

But she is confident in her ability to make it to the finish line. "My goal is to complete as many miles as possible without injuring myself," she says.

After completing each day's average ride of 80 miles, cyclists will set up camp in "tent cities." Overcoming her dislike of sleeping on the ground will be Satterfield's greatest challenge. I'm not a great camper," she says.

A facilities technician with Pacific Bell, Satterfield is part of the company's 25-member team.

Jones, a veteran of California AIDS Ride 4, says a support system is key for riders. It is the "unseen" people, as she calls them--the riders' families, ride organizers and donors--who make the event possible. Because of the aid she has received, she has raised more than $5,500 in pledges.

Jones, a nurse at O'Connor Hospital, has had experience caring for HIV patients. But it was those in the cardiology rehabilitation unit, who undergo physical therapy on bikes, that inspired her to participate in the ride.

"Just that belief that you can do something can create miracles," she says of those who overcame physical challenges.

In anticipation of her 50th birthday, which was in April, Jones decided to join the ride, although she did not even own a bike. "The only thing I've done that's harder is childbirth," she says.

However, she says that the experience has changed her outlook on life. "You really believe in possibilities that you never thought of before. I look people in the eye now that I didn't before."

Jones will be riding with two parishioners from her church and hopes to see friends made on last year's ride. "It's really a privilege to ride. It's an amazing experience to be considered a hero," she says.

California AIDS Ride 5 is the first of five AIDS Rides that will take place this year. Washington, D.C., AIDS Ride 3, Twin Cities/Wisconsin/Chicago AIDS Ride 3, Boston/New York AIDS Ride 4, and the Texas AIDS Ride will occur later this year.

To become a rider, join the crew or make a donation, call 800/825-1000 or visit www.aidsride.org/car/.

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