Saturday, June 26, 2010
"coming out" at work - declaring my HIV status
Last night, we had Friday night drinks at work with a big difference. I made a (planned) speech, about doing RAAM, and why we're doing it. That meant declaring my HIV+ status to all my work colleages. I was apprehensive, but I need not have worried. They were all fantastic, and fully support us in our Project, as well as me being HIV+ ! :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Team Time Trial Championships in NSW
I competed in the NSW Team Time Trial Championships last Sunday. It was a magnificent day, with 108 teams competing in various categories. My team was in the +150 category (where the combined age of the 3 youngest members is at least 150 - yes, we were born earlier!) We came 4th out of 26. Whilst getting 4th is always unfortunate, it was a nevertheless a great result and good training for RAAM (our time was 1:00:28 - just like a 1hour RAAM ride slot for our Team!). Individual TT's at the end of July. STEVEN
Blog working! + History of this Project
Not being technically savvy, I've had some problems with the blog. Fortunately my cycling buddy Fran has helped - Thank You!
So this Post is a rundown of what has happened in the last few months to get this Project going.
For a long time I had known about RAAM. But HIV+ people could not enter the USA like other people, so the possibility of me doing RAAM was remote. That changed on 4 January 2010, when the USA relaxed the visa requirements. A few weeks later, at a 200km ride in Victoria Aus, I saw a person wearing a RAAM jersey. I raced across and said "I want to earn one of those!". The person was Glenn Druery who confirmed the difficulty in doing RAAM - but that did not deter me.
The challenge was getting a team together. The criteria are numerous: good rider, endurance rider, HIV+, willing to disclose. I scoured the World. I left pamphlets in major HIV hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne. I joined various forums. All with little positive outcome. A guy in London was interested, and met all criteria but was unwilling to disclose his HIV status to the USA Dept of Home Security. The South African cycling bodies were unwilling to put a notice on their website "because HIV status is a sensitive issue in South Africa". But that's precisely why we're doing the Project - to reduce stigma and sensitivity!
Positive Pedalers in USA have been a great help. They put me in contact with Jim in New York, who responded within seconds of learning about the Project. I went to the USA in April/May, and joined the Jon Pon Ride north of San Francisco, and was able to make a short speech at dinner, whereafter Didier jumped aboard!
The pamphlets in the hospitals have had some response, including from a person in Sydney. Sadly, he decided to opt out of the Project, fearing the enormity of the challenge. I think he underestimates his capabilities.
I've no doubt that we will get a 4th Rider soon. Then for the crew!
So this Post is a rundown of what has happened in the last few months to get this Project going.
For a long time I had known about RAAM. But HIV+ people could not enter the USA like other people, so the possibility of me doing RAAM was remote. That changed on 4 January 2010, when the USA relaxed the visa requirements. A few weeks later, at a 200km ride in Victoria Aus, I saw a person wearing a RAAM jersey. I raced across and said "I want to earn one of those!". The person was Glenn Druery who confirmed the difficulty in doing RAAM - but that did not deter me.
The challenge was getting a team together. The criteria are numerous: good rider, endurance rider, HIV+, willing to disclose. I scoured the World. I left pamphlets in major HIV hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne. I joined various forums. All with little positive outcome. A guy in London was interested, and met all criteria but was unwilling to disclose his HIV status to the USA Dept of Home Security. The South African cycling bodies were unwilling to put a notice on their website "because HIV status is a sensitive issue in South Africa". But that's precisely why we're doing the Project - to reduce stigma and sensitivity!
Positive Pedalers in USA have been a great help. They put me in contact with Jim in New York, who responded within seconds of learning about the Project. I went to the USA in April/May, and joined the Jon Pon Ride north of San Francisco, and was able to make a short speech at dinner, whereafter Didier jumped aboard!
The pamphlets in the hospitals have had some response, including from a person in Sydney. Sadly, he decided to opt out of the Project, fearing the enormity of the challenge. I think he underestimates his capabilities.
I've no doubt that we will get a 4th Rider soon. Then for the crew!
Positive Pedalers Day in San Francisco and elsewhere
30th April 2010 was Positive Pedalers' Day in San Francisco and West Hollywood CA, New York, Minneapolis, Austin TX, and the States of New York, New Jersey, and the State of California. See www.pospeds.org. Steven was present at the declaration in San Francisco. "To stand on the City Hall Steps with Councillors, Senate representatives and together with so many HIV+ persons was unbelievably empowering" - The Declaration is a very positive statement to assist in reducing stigma. Thank you Grady and all at Pos Peds for the hard work in arranging those declarations!
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