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Message
from Shanti
FOURTH
ANNUAL RIDE FOR LIFE
Sunday,
October 15, 2000
On behalf of the clients, volunteers and staff at Shanti, I would like
to congratulate the 200 participants for being a part of the 4th Annual
Ride for Life, which took place on Sunday, October 15, 2000.
Together, I am proud to say that we raised over $31,000 for people living
with HIV/AIDS, cancer, breast cancer and other life-threatening and chronic
illnesses. For 26 years Shanti
has been at the forefront of providing emotional and practical peer support
services for people with life-threatening illnesses. The Ride for Life
has become Shantis second-largest annual fund-raiser and we hope to continue
to build each year.
This year we met at the Kilowatt on 16th Street in San Francisco, where
participants had a chance to meet and mingle, as well as have a glance
at the couple of hundred motorcycles that spread over two city blocks.
What a site
and what a feeling! Men and women from all over the
Bay Area showed, dawned their leather and waited for the official start
by Hank Plante, co-anchor of KPIX Channel 5 Eyewitness News.
As KPIX cameras and people came from their homes to watch the excitement,
we heard the sound of almost 200 motorcycles start-up and ride in one dramatic
pack through the streets of San Francisco
all wearing commemorative pins
and arm bands reflecting the logo and statement Ride for Life! We want
to thank the motorcycle officers of the San Francisco Police Department
who volunteered their time to escort us through the city and up to the
Golden Gate Bridge.
From there, the pack split into three different groups, offering participants
scenic choices of either a coastal, farm or direct route to the Russian
River. We all arrived and shared a hearty chicken and ribs barbecue
lunch at the Northwood Restaurant in beautiful Monte Rio.
Lunch was followed by a raffle, where participants walked away with
prizes like theater and concert tickets and gift certificates, Russian
River hotel stays, tee shirts and other items donated by various business
and community groups.
Participants paid a nominal $25 per person donation to Shanti in San
Francisco to join the ride, while many raised additional pledges from family,
friends and co-workers. The money raised went to help Shanti continue
and expand services for people with AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses.
Prizes, like commemorative tee shirts and bags are awarded for various
pledge levels. Soni, who has been riding with Shanti since 1997,
collected almost $1900 in pledges, and earned the status of top fundraiser
and two tickets on American Airlines! Congratulations Soni
and thank
you for your dedication and support.
I want to thank our volunteer committee who helped produce this years
event
Dermot, Jay, Peter, Dahn, Alden and Laurie, as well as our other
group leaders Carrie, Nancy, Adam, Angela, Jim, and Mike. (apologies
to anyone I missed!)
I also want to thank biker and dee jay Dave Morey, host of the morning
show on KFOG 104.5 San Francisco/97.7 San Jose, as well as his FOG-heads,
for promoting the event and raising over $2100 which will be matched by
Wal-Mart stores in Mountain View.
The 4th Annual Ride for Life was presented by American
Airlines, Ebillboards.com,
KFOG
104.5 San Francisco/97.7 San Jose, the San
Francisco Bay Guardian,
SF Frontiers
Newsmagazine, POZ, and Walgreens.
Additional sponsors include the Dolan Law Firm, the Edge, the Eagle Tavern,
the Kilowatt,
KineticShadows.com,
the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc and the Slant. Sponsors
have helped to underwrite costs with cash sponsorships, services and advertising
space. Many, many thanks to all of you!!
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Shanti (www.shanti.org) and the
Ride for Life are dedicated to building a community of motorcycle enthusiasts
who love the ride and care about people facing the challenges of AIDS and
other life-threatening illnesses.
Shanti is a non-profit organization, so your contribution is tax deductible
(Tax ID# 94-2297147). If you would like to support our efforts, your
donation, big or small, can be sent to Shanti Ride for Life, 730 Polk
Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. All checks should be made
payable to Shanti. I also suggest that you include your name and
Ride for Life in the memo line for easy reference.
We will begin planning for our 5th Annual Ride for Life soon, and will
let you know when a date is chosen. We will also be updating our
website, including pictures from this years event.
To sign up on our mailing list and to find out about future Ride for
Life events, fill out the Registration form or send your name and address
to .
If you are interested in volunteering or to obtain more information, feel
free to contact Doren Martin at any time at 415-674-4764 or .
Thanks again for all of your support.
Keep riding,
Ron Perri
Coordinator for the 2000 Shanti Ride for Life
Shanti
is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization (Tax ID 94-2297147) dedicated to enhancing
the quality of life, improving the well-being, and promoting the independence
of people living with HIV / AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses and
their caregivers.
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