$11,743.37

This year I am returning to the 6-day ride from Toronto to Montreal to raise funds and support PWA. As you may know, I first rode in 2018 and I have been an active member of the Bike Rally community ever since. In my second year I held dual roles as co-lead of fundraising and as a team co-captain and lead a team again the following season. Continuing to give back to the community I moved into the role as co-chair for the 2021 and ’22 rides. I am so thrilled to be back again as co-lead of Participant Engagement and the Rally's fist "Camping Guru" (coach).

Helping my greater community by volunteering is important to me. I know that contributing to your fellow citizens is important to you and that is why I am speaking with you (digital) today. Marginalized groups are in greater need this year as the latest pandemic has stripped government funding from service agencies. Those living on the fringe need PWA’s support now and they need more of it. This AIDS Service Organization (ASO) feeds those who are having a harder time, take care of medical services for those who have a complicated time, engage legal and immigration services for community members, and provide needed counselling and logistic services for those who have come from very dire situations.

Bet you didn’t even know that the majority of new clients of PWA aren’t gay white men. Bet you also didn’t know that PWA helps the children of those who have HIV. The 2SLGBTQ+ community has waved a rainbow flag for so many years and they really make a grate point by doing so. PWA helps every kind of person who lives with HIV today.

Well back to the ask. Might you be able to help some people get through the next few months? Can you help those who are affected by this earlier pandemic get past it? Can we fight both stigma and need at the same time?

Together we are stronger. Those who really need us, really need us now.

Thanks for all your support and love,
Sam