(Janie Bush ) Riders listen to a safety speech before a training ride
Cyclers ride for AIDS Outreach Agencies
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AUGUST 03, 2005
By Terri Rimmer

By Terri Rimmer
Happynews Citizen Journalist
The Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS will be held Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, covering Fort Worth, Glen Rose, and Dallas, Texas, among other areas.
The 175-mile cycling event has raised funds for people living with AIDS and HIV for five years through a grassroots, participant-produced bicycle rally. Proceeds go to three Dallas and Tarrant County-based AIDS service organizations.
The ride will wind through scenic Fort Worth, Cleburne, Historic Glen Rose, Alvarado, Midlothian, Cedar Hills and Dallas. There will also be an overnight stay in Dinosaur Valley State Park.
The funds raised will help HIV and AIDS patients with 100,000 shopping visits to two nutrition centers, 5,000 HIV tests, 62,245 nights of housing in four residential facilities, 100,000 hot meals, 16,000 transportation trips for medical care, support groups, and services, and 75,000 services for case management, dental, legal, and counseling.
All proceeds will go to one of three AIDS organizations: The AIDS Outreach Center (AOC) in Fort Worth, AIDS Services of Dallas and The Resource Center of Dallas.
“Our ride is not a huge ride number-wise to begin with. Our rider registration is slightly ahead of where it was at the same time last year. We have always had kind of 100ish riders,” said Janie Bush, event manager for the ride. “We had 88 our first year, we went up to 93 our second year, 133 our third year, back down to 100 last year. These were the numbers of riders that actually ended up on the road. At this point in time we have 108 riders registered.”
In the past four years Lone Star Ride has raised over $967,000 and 100 percent of those funds have gone to the three beneficiary agencies, Bush said. The event takes place rain or shine. Registration for riders is $75 and for crewmembers is $50.00.
“So for having the number of riders that we have participate that’s pretty amazing. It’s one of the best events around. It’s well supported,” she said. “Everybody has a great time on it. It’s an experience you will never forget.”
Riders of any experience level are welcome and no prior crew experience is required. Participants must be at least 17 years old and must meet a minimum fundraising commitment of $1,000 by Sept. 23.
The event is sponsored in part by Vior, Graham & Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation, Txt Newsmagazine, Dallas Voice Newspaper, Romanos Macaroni Grill, Verve, Crossroads Community Church, and Double H Enterprises.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display in Dallas in conjunction with Lone Star Ride’s closing ceremonies.
An All Crew Training Ride will be held Aug. 13 and a Pledge Drop/Social in Arlington is scheduled for Aug. 17.
Crew supported training rides will be held Aug. 20 and 21 at 7:30 a.m. with a rider meet-up time at 7 a.m. Crews will meet at 6:15 a.m. at Cravens Park, 400 Cravens Park Road, Arlington. Distance options are 53 or 65 miles.
Bikers are instructed to bring helmet, cycling clothes, extra tubes, and bike tool kit. Those needing medications refrigerated will have them at their disposal. A two-person tent will be provided for participants to share with the tent-mate of their choice unless the person wants a tent mate assigned. A massage, chiropractic and a medical team will also be on hand. The host hotel. Holiday Inn Fort Worth South is located less then three miles from the ride-out site.
For more information, call Janie Bush at 214-521-2412 (in the U.S.) or see lonestarride.org.
This story was produced by a Happy News Citizen Journalist.
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