Red Ribbon Ride

Several SEF members with buns of steel and calves of iron have been participating in the Mass Red Ribbon Ride, a two day, 175 mile endurance bicycle ride across Massachusetts, to raise money for over 13 Massachusetts AIDS service providers. The SEF Team has taken the name Wheels of Fortune, or WoF, pronounced Woof! The riders include Captain Cameron Calkins, Shawn Fields-Berry (who had been riding in the RRR for many years before founding Team WoF), George Popham, Runa, LoriJoy, and David Murray-McCarthy, each of whom have been riding diffferent mileages. This year (2006), Team WoF set and surpassed a fundraising goal of $10,000.

For next year, there is still room on the Team for more riders. The MR3 now has 50, 75, 100, and 175 mile options to encourage first time participants. Team WoF is committed to help each rider meet their goal and will assist with training and fundraising. If you would like more information, go the MR3 website http://www.massredribbonride.org .

We are compelled to ride for many reasons: the continuing spread of AIDS is pandemic, continuing federal and state cuts in funding for HIV treatment and prevention programs, the struggles and deaths of friends with AIDS, and the conviction that we can do something about it.

The SEF has also been assisting in the Ride itself by staffing a Pit Stop the last two years: in 2005 we ran a Harry Potter-themed Pit Stop in Plainfield, and this year we ran a Pirate Pit Stop at the Bolton Public Library. Duties included food service, traffic control, bike security and other light tasks to support the Riders. The work is light, the company excellent, and you get to shmooze with a lot of buff cyclists, while supporting a great cause. It is also a chance for the SEF to get involved in community events like other mainstream churches. AND - it's more fun than humans should be allowed!

Click on the Witch for photos from our 2005 Hogwarts Pit Stop,
Click on Sharkbait for photos from our 2006 Pirates of New England Pit Stop,
And click on Shawn to learn more about the Red Ribbon Ride, make a donation, or sign up to ride!