Over 3,000 Bicyclists—

AIDS Ride Route

Leads Through Newtown

By Tanjua Damon

Over 3,000 bicyclists were scheduled to make their way through Newtown on Thursday, July 19, during the 2001 Northeast Tanqueray AIDSRide, which raises funds for three organizations that help families dealing with HIV and AIDS.

They are expected to travel into town on Route 6 and 25, then proceeding down Church Hill Road for a rest stop at St Rose Church before reaching the bottom of Church Hill and turning onto Route 34 toward New Haven.

Sandy Hook resident Jason Benson, 46, will be part of the pack that begins Thursday at Bear Mountain, N.Y., and will continue 325 miles to Boston over four days. The event is not a race, but an opportunity for people to pay tribute to those they have known with the disease or for those who just want embrace and support all of humankind.

“Last fall I heard and advertisement on the radio on my way home from my job. It just resonated with me,” Mr Benson said. “My brother-in-law was a hemophiliac and succumbed to AIDS in 1989. It sounded like a good idea.”

Mr Benson started rigorous bike training in April with official training rides. Groups of riders get together and do various miles and difficulties.

On July 19, riders will begin in Bear Mountain and ride until they reach Yale University in New Haven. There will be pit stops or cheer stops every 15 miles for the riders to replenish and take a break if needed. Day 1 of the ride will be approximately 82 miles, Day 2 approximately 85 miles, Day 3 (the longest) will be 107 miles, and on Day 4 riders will enjoy about 50 miles to finish in Boston.

St Rose of Lima Catholic Church is a scheduled pit stop for the riders as they make their way through Newtown to Route 34 heading to New Haven.

“I’m not doing it for me. I’m doing it in memory of my brother-in-law and all the other good people who are doing this ride,” Mr Benson said. “And that will get you through the mileage. Anyone trying to do it themselves will have a harder time.”

Each rider obligates to raise a minimum of $2,100 given at the beginning of the ride, according to Mr Benson. He raised approximately $3,000 for the cause, which will in turn benefit three organizations: The Lesbian & Gay Community Center in New York, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York, and Fenway Community Health in Boston. All are places that help families deal with the virus.

“It’s a good thing,” Mr Benson said. “I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.”

Mr Benson’s family – wife, Donna, and children, Mathew and Taylor — will be cheering him on as he passes Bennetts Bridge Road on his way to New Haven on Thursday.