Email This Story
Print This StoryRelated To Story
Other News Video |
Cyclists Begin Act 6 AIDS Ride
Participants Ride 300 Miles In 4 Days
POSTED: 2:52 pm CDT August 7,
2008
UPDATED: 1:19 pm CDT August 8,
2008
MADISON, Wis. -- About 150 cyclists began the Act 6 AIDS Ride Thursday morning.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe cyclists left Olin Park just before 7 a.m. and will ride 300 miles over the next four days to raise money and awareness about AIDS research."The key words, the code words of our ride are 'courage, compassion, commitment.' Not only for the riders who have to raise the money, but also for the families and the children of those who are affected by this deadly disease," said David Beam, of the Act 6 AIDS Ride.The ride wraps up Sunday with closing ceremonies at 3 p.m. on Martin Luther King Boulevard in downtown Madison.Not everyone is a skilled cyclist; in fact, most are just people who want to support the cause or ride in memory of a loved one they lost.Claire Winter got on a bike when her son, Frank, had no choice but to get off one."I think about my son, and other people that I know that have had AIDS, and my son died of course, two years ago," said Winter.She's ridden the more-than-300-mile Wisconsin AIDS ride route four times, but now her time in the saddle is coming to an end too. "My goal was to ride until I was 70, and I'll be 70 this fall," said Winter.But she's not alone. Her daughter, Michaela Torcaso, is also pushing the pedals this year."I felt my brother Frankie sort of kick into (take out 'to/?) supporting me last night in a very different way, 'cause I have been exhausted. Then all of a sudden, it's like, you can do it," said Torcaso.Frank Torcaso courageously ended his fight publicly in front of WISC-TV cameras in 2006. He said at the time he wanted people to realize what AIDS really was."It doesn't need to be such a taboo disease. I know Frankie would talk about that, so many people have it," said Michaela Torcaso.The ride isn't easy -- it's not supposed to be. But the pain riders go through is temporary, and Frank's was permanent."I took care of him, and he was in a lot worse pain than I've ever thought of being in," said Winter.As the final riders arrived in Albany Thursday, Claire and Michaela walked the final bike -- a rider-less one -- in through the finish in memory of Frank, WISC-TV reported."So the grief for me is not so much that I don't have him in my life, it's that I don't get to be with him," said Torcaso.Said Winter, "He was just a very special person. Not that I don't love all my children, but when you lose one it means more."For more information and to find cheering stations to watch the riders, visit ActRide.org.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe cyclists left Olin Park just before 7 a.m. and will ride 300 miles over the next four days to raise money and awareness about AIDS research."The key words, the code words of our ride are 'courage, compassion, commitment.' Not only for the riders who have to raise the money, but also for the families and the children of those who are affected by this deadly disease," said David Beam, of the Act 6 AIDS Ride.The ride wraps up Sunday with closing ceremonies at 3 p.m. on Martin Luther King Boulevard in downtown Madison.Not everyone is a skilled cyclist; in fact, most are just people who want to support the cause or ride in memory of a loved one they lost.Claire Winter got on a bike when her son, Frank, had no choice but to get off one."I think about my son, and other people that I know that have had AIDS, and my son died of course, two years ago," said Winter.She's ridden the more-than-300-mile Wisconsin AIDS ride route four times, but now her time in the saddle is coming to an end too. "My goal was to ride until I was 70, and I'll be 70 this fall," said Winter.But she's not alone. Her daughter, Michaela Torcaso, is also pushing the pedals this year."I felt my brother Frankie sort of kick into (take out 'to/?) supporting me last night in a very different way, 'cause I have been exhausted. Then all of a sudden, it's like, you can do it," said Torcaso.Frank Torcaso courageously ended his fight publicly in front of WISC-TV cameras in 2006. He said at the time he wanted people to realize what AIDS really was."It doesn't need to be such a taboo disease. I know Frankie would talk about that, so many people have it," said Michaela Torcaso.The ride isn't easy -- it's not supposed to be. But the pain riders go through is temporary, and Frank's was permanent."I took care of him, and he was in a lot worse pain than I've ever thought of being in," said Winter.As the final riders arrived in Albany Thursday, Claire and Michaela walked the final bike -- a rider-less one -- in through the finish in memory of Frank, WISC-TV reported."So the grief for me is not so much that I don't have him in my life, it's that I don't get to be with him," said Torcaso.Said Winter, "He was just a very special person. Not that I don't love all my children, but when you lose one it means more."For more information and to find cheering stations to watch the riders, visit ActRide.org. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
