Cycling 545 miles in two weeks and need support!

In the past couple of weeks that I've posted bike riding workouts of 2,3, or more hours, because 2 weeks from today I will begin the 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to fight HIV and AIDS. Aside from being a KILLER workout where you burn TONS of calories (I recommend it to anyone!) There is a more important reason why I suddenly decided to pick up a bike.

To me, it is about more than this horrible epidemic- over 35 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the US alone, and a single HIV clinic in San Francisco tests an average of 75 newly infected people every MONTH. I'm also cycling in honor of my friend and colleague for PeaceJam (www.peacejam.org) Colleen Kelly. On October 8th, 2011 I had NEVER been on a road bike. On October 8th, 2011, my friend Colleen was was run over by delivery truck while on her bike. As she prepared for her first marathon, and as she was recovering from her incredible "Cycling for Peace" ride, she almost lost her life. Like many of us, she worked hard to live a healthy life and she absolutely LOVED cycling.

As I prepare for what will be undoubtedly be one of my most challenging and life-changing experiences, I think about her strength and her determination to come back stronger than ever. Today, Colleen crossed the finish line in the Super Hero half marathon- a coma and countless surgeries later. A woman who was told would probably never walk again. An unofficial slogan of the AIDS LifeCycle is that we're "riding for those who can't", and it's true for me this year. But I look forward to riding one day alongside my friend. This one's for you, Colleen. 545 miles is nothing.

I've been training hard to make sure I can ride the miles, but I need the help of my MFP family to make it to California. Please help me raise the last $815 I need to reach the $3,000 minimum to participate. Watch and share my YouTube video http://youtu.be/UICzSYhYivg or visit my fundraising website www.jaimebayo.com.

I hope I can count on your support. Although we may only become friends through MyFitnessPal, I definitely count you all as my friends. Weight loss is a very personal and private endeavor that is sometimes hard to share, especially when we have our bad days.

I hope I can count on the support of my MFP friends and community! Thank you in advance for joining me to fight HIV and AIDS.