Things often have a funny way of working themselves out. After making my previous post regarding my decision not to do the AIDS Ride, I checked my email and found a similar event happening down here in a couple weeks (albeit on a much smaller scale). Being Alive San Diego is sponsoring the Ride-4-AIDS cycling event to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS research. All the money raised through the event will go to the UCSD AIDS Research Institute, a non-profit organization focusing on bench to bedside research, treatment and education about HIV/AIDS and Being Alive San Diego, a non-profit direct service organization helping those whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS.

On a much sadder note, immediately before I found out about the San Diego ride, I learned that a close friend of a very good friend of mine (and someone who I have spent some time with, as well) had just been diagnosed as HIV positive. I can’t even fathom the range of emotions and tribulations that this person and his friends and family must be going through. He will definitely be at the forefront of my thoughts for the duration of the ride.

The ride I will be doing is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 1^st and will consist of a 25 mile loop through Harbor Island, the Cabrillo National Monument and Seaport Village. I have set my fundraising goal at $400 which I think should be very doable. Training starts tomorrow…

**If you would like to help support me by making a tax deductible donation to this cause, please visit: http://ride4aids.kintera.org/travisemmel**

(Thank you very much!!)