San Francisco Chronicle - Monday, June 4, 2001
Jim Doyle, Chronicle Staff Writer

Yesterday, the police officer joined 3,300 people taking part in a marathon bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for AIDS patients and to help increase awareness of the global epidemic.

"I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of him," said Whitaker's sister, Denise Graham of Oakley, who was among thousands of spectators who showed up at Fort Mason, near the Marina Green, for the start of the California AIDS Ride. "It's incredible. All these people are putting their money where their mouth is."

Since its founding eight years ago, the California AIDS Ride has become the nation's single-largest, private funding source for HIV/AIDS services. Similar rides are held each year on the Atlantic seaboard, in Texas and the Midwest. Net proceeds from Northern California riders in this year's event will benefit services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

The AIDS ride was one of many events, in the Bay Area and around the nation, held to mark the 20th anniversary of the discovery of what would ultimately be labeled AIDS.

And like many of those events, the start of the AIDS ride saw a morning of raw, searing emotion. Riders posed for pictures, traded hugs and shouted, "I love you" - not ashamed to show their tears.

There were riders of every description. Many had lost boyfriends, girlfriends and family members to AIDS. Some riders publicly indicated their HIV status by toting bright orange flags. One man who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident rode a hand-cranked bike.

Cheers and blaring rock music greeted the riders as they set off from Fort Mason at 7:45 a.m., led by Mayor Willie Brown for the first mile. Some spectators held placards of support. One man waved a huge American flag. The crowd was still cheering 35 minutes later when the last riders left.

Earlier, the cyclists had joined hands as a riderless bike was wheeled slowly through the crowd to symbolize those who have died from AIDS and the spirit it takes to survive. "Today, let us create a living, breathing monument. We will never give up," said Jeff Shuck of Palotta TeamWorks, which runs the AIDS ride and dozens of other charity events.

"This is my first year. I'm a little terrified. Luckily, my health is still good," said Sean Ray, 32, of San Francisco. "At first I was doing the ride as a way to remember my friends who died from AIDS and all the hard times they went through. But in August, when I tested positive, it put a whole new spin on things. It made me realize that people are still getting sick, regardless of what we know about the disease or have learned about it in the past 20 years."

Each rider must raise or donate a minimum of $2,700 to qualify for the event. Ray raised $10,098.

"I wrote letters and sent e-mails to basically every person I've ever known, " Ray said. "My first girlfriend I had in elementary school, who's now married with children, was the first to respond."

Robert Hedrick Falk, an attorney and athlete from Fair Oaks, raised $900 for the AIDS ride. So he put the rest on his VISA card. Yesterday, his wife, Anita, videotaped his departure. "Goodbye, pumpkin," Falk said to his 10-month- old daughter, Chloe, before getting on his bike.

A middle-aged couple who wished to remain anonymous were there to cheer on their son, who is riding to Los Angeles in memory of his brother, who died earlier this year of AIDS.

"AIDS is not going away. It's getting worse," said another rider, David Toy of Palo Alto, whose brother Leland, a kite designer, also died of complications from the HIV virus. "I don't think the government is doing as much as it could."

Dr. Keith Loring took time off from his job as an emergency room physician at San Francisco General Hospital to ride in the six-day, 575-mile marathon. "One of my boyfriends died from AIDS three years ago," he said. "Out of this tragic epidemic has arisen this incredibly caring, supportive event - not just to raise money, but to learn what it means to be a team and care for each other."

A caravan of trucks, buses and volunteers followed the riders.

"I started out as a biking enthusiast and thought it would be fun to do it, " said John Johnson of San Carlos, captain of Team Tanqueray's 21 riders from the wine, food and hotel industries. Tanqueray, a prime sponsor for the AIDS rides, has raised more money for AIDS services than any other company.

"I was so moved by the experience and the camaraderie that I decided to get the word out to my trade," said Johnson, who is riding in the event for the fifth time.

Last night, at the National AIDS Memorial in Golden Gate Park, a service was held to mark the 20th anniversary of AIDS, those who have died from the disease and others who are still fighting for their lives.

E-mail Jim Doyle at jdoyle@sfchronicle.com.

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