Bay Windows - Local News, September 15, 1999
Scott A. Giordano, Bay Windows staff

The 275-mile trek is scheduled for Sept. 16-18 and expected to raise an estimated $3.5 million for Boston's Fenway Community Health Center (FCHC) and about the same amount for AIDS service providers in New York.

Presented by Tanqueray and produced by the Los Angeles-based Pallotta TeamWorks (Pallotta), the Ride has been criticized by some because of what they believe to be its high overhead, administrative and other Ride-related expenses. Yet Ride producers and participants say the three-day event will raise millions of dollars for AIDS-service agencies and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS at a time when some people falsely believe the AIDS epidemic is under control.

Local participants include longtime HIV/AIDS survivors, riders who have lost loved ones to the disease and people newly infected by HIV virus that causes AIDS. A large number of gay men continue to participate in the AIDS Rides, including many who have lost loved ones to the disease. Dorchester, Mass., resident Gary Pasnick was planning to take part in the local AIDS Ride to honor the memory of a partner he lost to AIDS complications. "I thought I was powerless. I needed and wanted to do something to make a difference. I wanted to help myself and others are around me. The AIDS Rides have allowed me to do that," Pasnick said.

"I lost my partner, Jack, to AIDS-related complications about six months ago. His death was a devastating loss for both me and his son," he added. "Jack's son, Andrew, and I rode together in the California AIDS Ride 6 this year, and it created an incredible bond between us. It also gave us an avenue through which we could channel our energy and devotion to something we believe in. Plus, the AIDS rides help thousands of people, while heightening awareness about HIV and AIDS."

Boston resident Bruce Reisman planned to ride because he said his entire life has changed since he was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1987.

"It's affected my view of life, love, family and friends. I am riding for many reasons, but mainly because I am HIV-positive and I want to help others like me," Reisman said. "I also ride because of the great work Fenway Community Health Center does for people who are living with HIV and AIDS. ... The AIDS Ride does more than raise money; it raises awareness. I'll never forget the day we rode past an elementary school where a group of children were out in front cheering us on. Now, each of those children know a little more about HIV and AIDS and the people it affects."

FCHC Executive Director Stephen Boswell estimates that up to 50 percent of HIV-positive individuals are now seeking treatment, and that is why the need for events such as the AIDS Ride is so great.

"The AIDS Ride helps us to dispel the myth that the AIDS crisis is over," he said. "In addition, the money raised ... will enhance our ability to respond to the increasing number of people with HIV receiving care at the Fenway. We are forever grateful to the community for their continuos support of the AIDS Ride."

"The two things that the Ride accomplishes are the dollars that the Ride brings into the community to provide health care for people living with HIV and also to raise awareness to the fact that AIDS is not over," added Glenn Kaufhold, director of marketing and development for the FCHC.

Despite having more people live longer with HIV due to modern treatments, AIDS-service agencies continue to see increases in the number of people seeking treatment. "Certainly people are living longer so there are more visits related to that, and there are also more and more people infected every day. And we are still trying to get people into care, so the number of patients we see with HIV continues to grow," Kaufhold said.

AIDS Ride funds raised for the FCHC will be used to provide people access to protease inhibitors and other AIDS-fighting drugs; and to provide primary medical care, mental health services and holistic therapy. The New York Ride beneficiaries are the NY Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center and the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.

Riders were expected to pedal about 92 miles a day at their own pace ù with the Ride being fully supported by a mobile city staffed with volunteers to provide water and snack pit-stops, catered hot meals, hot showers, mechanical services, comprehensive medical services, and tents for camping. Each rider had to raise a minimum of $1,700 in order to participate in the event; and trained an estimated 1,275,000 hours for the event.

"When I tested positive for HIV in 1987, I thought my life was over," said Terry Bosworth, a rider from Somerville, Mass. "To make matters worse, four years later, I developed full-blown AIDS. My T-cell count was below 200, and in 1996, I developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma and had to go through chemotherapy. Fortunately, I went into remission the following year and have been healthy ever since.

"Now I feel like the Energizer Bunny," she added. "This will be my third [AIDS Ride], ... The AIDS Ride has allowed me to help others while doing something for myself. It's a celebration of my new life, body and strength. I am now looking forward to living my life to its fullest. Nothing can hold me back."

The Boston-N.Y. AIDS Ride is one of Tanqueray's five American AIDS Rides; the others being the California AIDS Ride, Washington D.C. AIDS Ride, Twin Cities-Wisconsin-Chicago AIDS Ride and the Texas AIDS Ride. Producers of the AIDS Ride estimate that the AIDS Rides have grossed more than $120 million dollars to date.

The Ride was expected to conclude with closing ceremonies in New York City on 8th Avenue, between 14th and 16th streets, on Sept. 18th.

Last year's Boston-N.Y. AIDS Ride 4 had 2,500 riders and raised about $6.4 million. The FCHC received $3,510,069 of that money but had to pay $1,693,311ù or 51.33 percent ù for Ride expenses, with its available revenue amounting to $1,708,319. That figure falls below Pallotta's goal, as stated in public records, that 63 cents of very dollar would go to the FCHC.

The FCHC held a Sept. 10 press conference in which it distributed Project CARE grants, based on last year's AIDS Ride 4 proceeds, to the following New England-based organizations: Bridgeport Community Health Center; Latino Health Institute; Outer Cape Health Services, Inc.; MOCAA (Men Of All Colors Against AIDS); Positive Directions, Inc.; Ruah Breath of Life, Inc.; and Vermont Cares. Those organizations received the grants because they deal with the economic, psycho-social and cultural barriers that clients encounter and are uniquely able to reach.

Additional AIDS Ride sponsors include American Airlines, Bicycling Magazine, CLIF Bar, Janus, and Silicon Graphics, Inc. New England sponsors include American Medical Response, Back Bay Bicycles and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CareGroup.

Ride director is fired Sept. 14

Only two days before the Boston-N.Y. AIDS Ride 5 presented by Tanqueray was scheduled to begin on Sept. 16 , Bay Windows learned that Nancy Hall was fired from her position as director of the Boston AIDS Ride office.

Meanwhile, staff from Boston's Fenway Community Health Center (FCHC) ù the local AIDS Ride beneficiary ù were not aware of the reasons behind Hall's dismissal. "It's true that Nancy Hall is no longer with the AIDS Ride office. That is a human relations issue and it's a confidential matter, but she is no longer with the office as of [Sept. 14]," said Joanne Forster, publicity director for the AIDS Ride, who declined further comment on the matter. Dave Shephard, public relations consultant for the FCHC, said he first learned of Hall's dismissal from Bay Windows and was surprised to learn about the development. Hall was fired by the Ride producers, Pallotta TeamWorks, Inc., not by the FCHC. "[Hall] is not our employee. ... We are surprised by this," Shephard said. "There are some things [Pallotta has] control over and that is why we are paying them to do a good job. It obviously had to be a significant reason [Hall was fired] to have it be done at this time and for this to have happened so quickly. I had no indication that this was in the works. I am speechless and don't have anything to say. ... It's my understanding that [FCHC public relations chief Glenn Kaufhold] became aware of it this morning." Hall could not be reached for comment at Bay Windows press time.

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