Gehri and team SoFl Beach Bikers work hard for ultimate goal
Jayson Gehri (Photo courtesy of Mr. Gehri)
By MIKE ROSENFIELD
Jayson Gehri rides with a team of cyclists that raise money for HIV/AIDS. The team is comprised of six men (four riders and two volunteers). The team is known as the SoFL Beach Bikers. Currently, Gehri is training for his third event, AIDS/LifeCycle -a fully supported, 545-mile/seven day (June 6-12) ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
“I started bike riding in 2008; my first event was the SMART Ride (Miami to Key West). I wanted a challenge and to give back to the community. The current goal is to raise $3,000 per person or $12,000.00 for the team. Although things can get stressful, having a full time job, raising money and training, the experiences of the rides are very enriching,” said Gehri.
As of press time, the team had raised more than $10,000.
The team members raise money individually by canvassing neighborhoods, family and friends or as a team through public events such as selling Jello-shots at the Alibi. The monies raised for the AIDS/LifeCycle benefit the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, while the monies raised for the SMART ride benefit Broward House, Metropolitan Charities, Center for Positive Connections, AIDS Help, Miracle of Love, and the Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County.
Gehri wants the community to understand that it does not matter whether money is being raised for people in San Francisco or in Fort Lauderdale.
“We are all in this together,” Gehri said. “It’s for the benefit of those in need.”
Gehri said many more people are capable of doing this ride than they may know. “With just a little determination people can accomplish a lot of things,” Gehri said.
The ride is fully supported by a group of volunteers called “Roadies.” They are the ones that carry all of the equipment, organize rest stops and provide fresh cold drinks along the route.
The Roadies also set up and break down campsites and rest stops, serve meals, pour water, make electrolyte drinks, pick up trash, park bicycles, fix bicycles, pick up exhausted riders, wrap sore knees, give massages, lead cheers, give directions, hang signs, mark the route, and just about anything else you can think of !
“The volunteers treat us like kings,” said Gehri.
Each segment of the ride is carefully planned. The bicyclists receive a hot breakfast and then get underway. The route is beautiful, laden with artichoke and strawberry fields, topped off with spectacular views of the ocean.
At the conclusion of each day of the event, cyclists roll in to their tent city already up and running. The night is reserved for spending time together, sharing stories or just enjoying the camaraderie of other cyclists. A massage tent is open for cyclists with muscle aches. Early next morning the routine starts all over.
“It’s an experience of a lifetime,” said Gehri. In 2009, 2,150 cyclists participated in the ride and raised more than $10.5 million.
To donate money to Gehri’s team visit: www.tofighthiv.org and click on AIDS/Lifecycle. Then click donate and type in the team name as ‘SoFL Beach Bikers’.
it is a beautiful thing you are doing! but lets not get lost with the idea that “it does not matter whether money is being raised for people in san francisco or in ft. lauderdale”, because it really does matter! your article claims that in 2009 2,150 cyclists brought in more that $10.5 million – well in 2010 the tuesdays angels bike ride had 6 cyclists that raised $40,000.
i find this pretty pathetic!! you want to travel across the country and do this incredible ride, that is great – but to say it does not matter what area you are helping, i have to disagree. you should keep your own yard clean before starting to clean someone else s.
besides there is a BIG difference in the support that the state of california, the county and city of san francisco provides to its citizens versus the state of florida and broward county.
please lets not get lost in the rhetoric!!