$5,058.84

There is a special kind of magic that gets created during the six days of the bike rally. I learned this last year. It's a deeply caring and supportive community raising awareness and funds for an important cause. 

Treatment options for HIV/AIDS have vastly improved in recent years but there is still no cure. People on proper daily treatment are undetectable and can't pass on the virus sexually. Those living with HIV today are living long and full lives. But an HIV diagnosis comes with all kinds of health complications and social stigma. Medications are expensive, affordable housing and accessible medical care can be hard to find, and a supportive community is essential. 

For many living with HIV, these fundamental social supports are limited so they turn to service organizations like the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) and Bruce House in Ottawa. My fundraising this year will be split 50/50 between PWA and Bruce House. You can learn more about Bruce House here: https://brucehouse.ca/

I am also offering a few fundraising incentives this year. 

1. A Montreal summer getaway raffle which will remain open until March 31. The grand prize includes two roundtrip VIA Rail business class tickets to Montreal from anywhere on the Windsor-Montreal line, a two night stay at the Marriott Residence Inn downtown, $500 in VISA gift card spending money, and a Fierté/Pride Montreal VIP pass (if visiting August 8-10, 2025). You can buy raffle tickets at this link: https://shorturl.at/cgtL1. This link will auto-populate with my name in the 'in support of' section of the raffle page and funds raised will be linked back to me. 

2. For all donations $50 and above, I will do a training ride in your name at the equivalent distance in kilometres. So if you donate $50, I'll do a 50 km ride in your name, if you donate $100 I'll do a 100 km ride in your name, and so forth. I will share these rides via social media and regular email updates. 

3. I plan to offer a Zoom talk sometime after the bike rally on a subject of general interest. One idea that I have right now is a talk on rethinking Canadian identity in an age of truth and reconciliation. Other suggestions welcome! 

Thank you for reading this far. I aim to keep you posted with regular training updates by email and social media including another mid-summer Quebec bike-packing trip. If you are interested in knowing where I'll be riding on my Quebec excursion, you can learn more here: https://ptittraindunord.com/en/

Yours in community,

Sam