December 7, 2007
WORLD CALEB DAY
toddler/activist Caleb Glover
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World AIDS Day Ride cheerleader Ginger Brewlay with a picture of Caleb |
It's almost like a biathlon to fight injustice. Two month ago dozens of Campaign to End AIDS activists took a cool dip at the Wales West RV Resort in Alabama with three-year old Caleb Glover after Glover was barred from the pool there. Last week, on World AIDS Day, December 1, more than 300 cyclists took part in a World AIDS Day AIDS awareness ride—and dedicated their efforts to Glover.
World AIDS Day Rides were held in cities from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco to Sydney. Some were only one-person strong. The biggest contingent was in Los Angeles, where the organizer of all these simultaneous cycles, Brian Hodes, led a group of 175 riders for 27 miles, representing the number of years since the start of the AIDS epidemic. Pictures of Caleb were displayed at the opening ceremonies to remind people of the stigma and discrimination that HIV-positive people still face. Hodes and his crew got thumbs-up of encouragement from Angelenos as they rode; when the riders reached the Pacific Ocean, Hodes read the names of people who have died from AIDS.
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Hodes and friends ride for Caleb |
Hodes is also captain of Team100, a group of 100 riders who last year raised the most money in the history of the high-profile AIDS LifeCycle ride between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The enterprising cyclist is shoring up sponsorship to bring Caleb and his family to Los Angeles (and Disneyland!) for the start of the AIDS LifeCycle in June. "I decided to dedicate the World AIDS Day bike-ride to Caleb after hearing about his Wales West saga on Good Morning America. I just couldn't believe this innocent child could be treated the way he was," Hodes said.
Silvia Glover, Caleb's foster mother, is thrilled that Caleb has been able to bring people together to fight HIV/AIDS stigma. "These riders are people of great compassion," Glover said.
If you want to help get Caleb and his family to Disneyland, contact Hodes at brian@teamutac.com.