2009 Ride Plans

Kickstand up for the

NYCDC AIDS Research Ride Sept.12-15, 2009 330 miles - NYC to DC

February 19, 2009 Dear Friends, September 11, 2008 – Alone in lower Manhattan, I moved with the crowds to pay my respects at the World Trade Center site, making my way back to rest on the steps of Federal Hall. Gazing across at Wall Street, I marveled at the flag-draped New York Stock Exchange and witnessed the changing of automatic rifle-toting guards in front of its ornate doors. The next day at dawn, 26 riders left Wall Street on the inaugural NYC-DC AIDS Research Ride. Before we’d pedaled our way into Washington, DC, Lehman Brothers had closed its doors and the crumbling of Wall Street had begun. The economic downturn affects us all so why would I come back yet again to humbly ask you to contribute your hard-earned resources to end HIV/AIDS?

Furthering the cuttingedge HIV/AIDS research of George Mason University’s Dr.Yuntao Wu

The answer lies in how I spent the off-season. Last December, I traveled to San Francisco with our Ride Director, Marty Rosen, to present a check for over $70,000 to the AIDS Research Institute at UCSF. The intimate event was attended by the ARI’s top scientists including Dr. Jay Levy, codiscoverer of HIV. Dr. Levy tells a story of how his discovery wouldn’t have happened without a small $1000 grant needed to buy a crucial piece of equipment. The ARI has learned that every penny counts and is very excited about the many breakthrough opportunities that $70,000 will afford. Soon after, Marty and I met on the other coast to hand $65,000 to the President of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. That donation allowed Dr. Yuntao Wu to hire a respected researcher to build on his important discovery of how HIV breaks a protective barrier to get inside a T cell, eventually causing the cell to die, leading to full-blown AIDS. Design of a novel drug to keep HIV out of the T cell could keep an HIVinfected person from ever progressing to AIDS. Imagine that. Yesterday I went to the State Capitol to talk to my elected officials about preserving funds for vital HIV/AIDS services and was saddened by their obvious distress at having to cut programs that will rewind the clock on progress made.

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Get informed

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Share the facts

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Stay protected

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Give what you can when you can

Until we stop HIV, millions more people will die. The rate at which people will die is directly proportional to the resources we can afford to put into prevention, treatment and services for the infected. I won’t stop doing what I can to end AIDS, in good times or bad. I may need to get creative, as with my grocery budget, but trust you’ll do the same to get informed, share the facts, stay protected and give what you can, when you can to your local AIDS service organizations or in support of my 2009 ride. Bringing hope to the journey, Tracy Daugherty

Get all you need to step up to ending AIDS by following www.kickstandup.blogspot.com

Please support me as I participate in the

NYCDC AIDS Research Ride NYC to Washington, DC-September 10-13, 2009-330 miles Participant:

Tracy Daugherty Riding to support our 2009 research beneficiary, Dr. Yuntao Wu and his team at George Mason University.

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I will make a contribution to the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride: ❒ $1,000 ❒ $250 ❒ $100 ❒ $50 ❒ Other _______

❒ My company has a matching grant program. (Attach your company’s form) Company Name _______________________________

Please make your check payable to the “NYCDC AIDS Research Ride.” Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City ___________________________ State ________ Zip __________ Email* ____________________________________________________

*You must include your email to receive a receipt for tax purposes. Your email address will not be sold.

Please ride in honor or memory of: ______________________________ Please return your donation & this form to Tracy Daugherty or directly to NYCDC AIDS Research Ride, P.O. Box 26, Piermont, NY 10968. Credit card donations taken online at www.nycdc.org

Thank you for your generous support! The NYCDC AIDS Research Ride is a production of Day2 Inc, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Your contribution is taxdeductible to the full extent allowed by law. To learn more about the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride and our beneficiary visit www.nycdc.org.

Get all you need to step up to ending AIDS by following www.kickstandup.blogspot.com