I never actually thought I’d say that (not a huge fan of southern California) but in this case I’ll make an exception. In June, four of us called Team Glucosamine will be riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles (along with about 2,000 others) in AIDS/Lifecycle to raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS. It’s a 7-day, 545 mile journey that benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and a host of other AIDS/HIV-related organizations.
In order to participate in this very worthwhile adventure, we need to each raise $2,500 by June 2 (actually May 18th) so we’re asking for your help. I’m not an experienced fundraiser but all the conventional wisdom says just ask, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m hoping some of you who regularly check out this site for illustrations may be open to making a donation…but believe me, I know full well that creative professions don’t often equal disposable income.
But please know, if you do give, this money won’t go toward the purchase of my new carbon fiber dream bike, rather all of it goes to support the organizations you’ll see described on the ALC site. Use this link or click on the logo above to reach my fundraising page on the main web site where you can make a donation on line. You can also read more about the Ride, and what thousands of individuals are doing to help stem the rising tide of HIV infection in our communities, our state and around the world, especially in developing countries like Africa, a place near and dear to my heart, having spent some time there in the mid 1990’s.
Cycling has benefited me and the members of my aging but enthuiastic team in some amazing ways over the past few years and I’m thrilled that the sport I’ve grown to love so much can be leveraged to do some good in the world. I’m also grateful for the health and physical stamina (I hope) to take on a challenge like this, when there are so many who aren’t able. It would be even better to have the collective best wishes and support of the people I know/love or have yet to meet, to take along with me. I suspect on Day 7, I’ll need as much encouragement as I can get to push me over the finish line.
If you’re an illustrator or you just like the work you see on this site I’d love to send you a custom print of the original illustration below, as a thank you for a donation of any amount. For a donation of $100.00 or more, I’ll do the framing. Please let me know if you’ve donated as a result of visiting this blog so I can send you an illustration.
And if you, being the creative types you are, have any ideas for fundraising, please share.
On behalf of Team Glucosamine, thanks in advance for your support,
James