A Cal Poly lecturer hopes to use her love of bicycling to help those afflicted with AIDS.
Valerie Barboza, an active 50-year-old English instructor, recently pledged to raise at least $2,500 for California AIDS programs so she can be a cyclist in the 1999 California AIDS Ride.
The California AIDS Ride, an annual fund-raiser in which cyclists tour from San Francisco to Los Angeles, lasts seven days (560 miles). The event begins June 6.
In order to participate, each of the more than 2,000 cyclists must raise at least $2,500 a month before the event. Pledges totaled $9.5 million last year.
So far, Barboza is the only bicyclist representing Cal Poly at this event. She hopes cyclists from the campus and San Luis Obispo will join her.
Barboza decided to ride in memory of friends who died from AIDS.
"People have choices," Barboza said. "I choose to do this and challenge myself, because I feel strongly committed that together we can find a way to cure (AIDS)."
In order to meed and even exceed the pledge minimum, Barboza said she needs the community's help.
"The larger cities have many, many riders, and each one manages to raise the money," Barboza said. "I think it would be really sad to not be able to raise $2,500 because of lack of community support."
Some Cal Poly students expressed their admiration for Barboza for taking on the challenges of the AIDS Ride.
"I think that's really impressive," said Amy Lobsinger, a liberal studies junior. "That shows a lot about her as a human being."
Lobsinger, who supervises the climbing wall at Poly Escapes, said she knows a lot of people would pursue the AIDS Ride if they had the time.
"I would have liked to do this, that would be so much fun," said Ikon Chen, an industial technology junior.
Barboza said she is seeking donations from local businesses and individuals that would like to help fight AIDS. Donation and background information about the AIDS Ride is on her web page at http://www.calpoly.edu/~vbarboza.
"This is something we can do that goes beyond our neighborhood, beyond our borders," Barboza said. "We need to take care of this."
Patricia Harris, coordinator of Woman's Programs at Cal Poly, has already lent a hand to help Barboza raise money.
"One thing Women's Programs is doing is sponsoring (Barboza) by giving her our table at an annual Health and Wellness Conference," Harris said.
Barboza will be handling out pledge sheets and possibly holding a silent auction on donated items at the conference. Organized by Women's Programs, and other community groups, the Health and Wellness Conference takes place April 10 at Cuesta College.
"I think what she is doing is awesome, and I want to support her in whatever way I can," Harris said.
Barboza said she will devote more time to training for the AIDS ride once classes for this quarter are over. Teaching English and finding donations are her first priorities.
Cyclists in the AIDS Ride will travel mostly on frontage roads by Highway 1 and 101. They are expected to reach San Luis Obispo by the fourth day of the event.
"When they come through San Luis Obispo, you can tell, because it is a big group," Barboza said. "(The group) lasts for miles and miles."
Bicycling through San Luis Obispo during the AIDS Ride will be a special moment for her, Barboza said.
"(It) would be great to have the community come out and cheer us through."
She said that overcoming the challenges of raising money, training, and finishing the race is a small scrifice compared to the struggles people with AIDS face every day.
"I have people along the way to encourage me and remind me that sitting on a bicycle for (seven) days is going to be worth it," Barboza said.
Back to Valerie's page.