Amy Walden's Story
Food and making people comfortable is what I love dealing with outside of work, so joining the Steering Committee and working on food donations and the food committee was a natural fit. I also have enjoyed the ACT community and becoming a better bike rider.

Amy Walden, SC-ACT 7 and 8

Amy Weigand's Story
Three years ago, my best friend somehow convinced me to sign up for the ACT 5 ride. Of course I had no bike, no helmet, and hadn't ridden a bike in 5 years. And I had always vowed no one would ever see me in bike shorts! A new bike and many training rides later, I embarked on my first ACT ride. During those four days I was embraced by strangers, encouraged through seemingly impossible tasks, and felt a true caring, compassion and community that is often missing in day to day life. Every year I look forward to those 4 days where I get to enter that fantastic world again.

Amy Weigand, SC-ACT 7 and 8

Bradley Tabor's Story
I started my time with the ACT community on ACT 4. I signed up to crew just to appease a rider who had been after me to sign up. I figured I could volunteer for four days then be done with it. How bad could it be, right? I was so wrong.

By the end of the first day, I had already signed up to crew again the next year. And by the end of the next year, I had signed up to serve on the steering committee. It was infectious. The ride was fun and exciting and electric and everyone behaved like your parents taught you that people should.

Sure I may have called 911 over a controlled burn on someone's farm. (People set fires ON PURPOSE in the country. Who knew?) And maybe I got lost once or five times on the route. (I still blame my navigator...) But I was embraced in this wonderful community that was warm and welcoming and compassionate. And none of it felt hokey, we were just all friends having a great time for an important cause.

Some of the best friends I will ever have are because of my four (going on five) years on this ride. It's been hard work. Planning starts for me almost the day after the previous ride ends. But at the end of each day, when I see Rider Zero being walked into camp, and we all hug, I know that we have accomplished something great. I work as hard as I can to ensure that the amazing groups of volunteers that I have been given to privilege to work with have the same amazing experience that I did on ACT 4 and every year since. And that's why, to quote my good friend Jeanne Marshall, I will be in this ride til AIDS is over, or I am.

Bradley Tabor, SC-ACT 7 and 8

Jacob Wright's Story
I moved to Madison in 2005 and have been riding since ACT 4. I joined because I wanted to meet people in my new home town; I stay because I love the people I met. I am thankful for the opportunity to make lives better while surrounded by such a great community.

Jacob Wright, SC-ACT 6, 7 and 8

Jeanne Marshall's Story
When I come to the ACT rides, I wear a cow on top of my helmet, first because I work for a dairy farmer cooperative, second because I ride in memory of a former co-worker, a Wisconsin farm boy who was a herdsman on large dairies in Florida and finally because we have great roads to ride on thanks to the state law that requires a paved road to every dairy farm in the state.

Jeanne Marshall, SC-ACT 6, 7 and 8

Jim Berger's Story
I crewed all seven previous ACT rides and helped to design the routes for ACTs II, III, 4, 6 and 7. I most fondly remember serving as one of only four route markers who marked all six days of ACT I, especially being pulled by my partner Nadine (now Nadine Nixon, MD) from a patch of thorny brambles I fell into around 11:00 one dark night along a lonely road near Beloit. Since my ACT I experiences, I have contended that route markers have the most difficult job on the ride. Rumor has it that I will actually bike ACT 8 and that the route committee hopes to get revenge by repeating the route from ACT III.

Jim B, SC-ACT 5, 6, 7 and 8

Larry Palm's Story
I may be best known as the guy behind the camera on ACTs 6 and 7. It is truly inspiring to have the privilege to capture the memories of so many good people working so hard to eradicate HIV/AIDS from our planet.

I began my interest in the Ride as a member of the AIDS Network board, and I became a member of the steering committee for ACT 7. I continue with the Ride because of the wonderful and unique community that develops over those four great days in August.

Larry Palm, SC-ACT 6, 7 and 8

Michael Christian's Story
After working as a neuro imaging specialist for 14 years at Southwest Michigan MRI Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I left the medical field to purchase and operate a nut roasting business. Two years and many thousands of pounds of almonds, pecans and hazelnuts later, my wife and I sold the business and relocated to Madison, Wisconsin in 1997. I have been employed by Zimbrick, Inc. at the Infiniti of Madison location ever since moving to Madison.

A dear friend of mine rode in a couple Heartland rides and a couple of ACT rides. He was also a crew member with his partner doing "sweep". I promised him that I would do the ACT ride. He passed away just before ACT 4 which gave me absolutely no time to train. I have been involved with the ACT ride as a rider in 5 & 6, crew member in ACT 7 and I hope to be back in the saddle for ACT 8.

ACT really gives me the positive juice I need to get through the year. Now that I am on the Steering Committee, I can't think of a better organization to give my time and efforts to.

Michael Christian, SC-ACT 8

Michaela Torcaso's Story
Is your body sore? Do you need to relax? How about a massage? I am the owner of TIBIA, Inc. (Massage School and Healing Center) which donates gift certificates for top riders/crew fundraisers in addition to providing 15+ volunteers to give massages on the ACT ride.

I first participated with ACT II upon encouragement from her brother Frank Torcaso, who passed away in June, 2006, of AIDS- related complications, and I have been involved with the Steering Committee since ACT 4.

Michaela Torcaso, SC-ACT 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Pam Puckett's Story
I became involved in the ACT ride because my partner is a biker and wanted to ride. Since I had no desire to sit on a bike for 300 miles, I opted for crew. I've never looked back. ACT 8 will be the fifth year that we have been involved with the Ride, and I've even taken the plunge to serve on the Steering Committee this year. The ACT ride community, family really, is what keeps me returning year after year as we work together to build an event that really makes a difference locally, and for a cause that enhances the quality of life for the recipients of the services of the Network. I'm extremely proud to be involved with this event.

Pam Puckett, SC-ACT 8

Peter Thomas's Story
I began my "second cycling career" as a middle-aged guy by riding with some great people who are members at the Prairie Athletic Club. Among those are John and Demi Rolfes.

As I got back into the sport, I kept hearing from them about how much fun (and challenging) the Wisconsin AIDS rides were. After much good- natured prodding by my fellow cyclists, I took the plunge and participated in ACT 5. While a bit nervous at first about the challenge ahead, I quickly realized that this was more than a bike ride around Southern Wisconsin.

It was a "gathering of like-minded individuals" who not only enjoyed cycling, but who were riding for friends, family and loved ones. The sense of family and camaraderie that existed during those four days in August was like no other event I've participated in. After ACT 5, I was hooked. This ride will be a part of my memories of summer from now on.

Peter Thomas, SC-ACT 8

Ron Roberts's Story
I have been involved with the ACT ride beginning with ACT 5. Actually my getting started with the ride was encouraged by Felicia Melton-Smith. Never a regrettable moment since becoming involved!

Joining the steering committee on ACT 7 provided a way to give even more back to the community as a whole than ever before. I became involved with fund raisers for AIDS Network years prior to the Ride because of the loss of a friend. Plans are to continue to make a difference and try to make life a better place for everyone by being a participant in the Ride as crew, maybe one day as a rider.

Who knows what the future can bring, and it’s a wonderful way to spend the dog days of August with a very unique community that forms each ride. As they say, “Isn’t it time to make a difference in this world for the good?”

Ron Roberts, SC-ACT 6, 7 and 8

Sue Hughes's Story
My first experience with the ACT Ride was for ACT II. I was a day volunteer for the medical team. There wasn't much for me to do so I ended up helping the PM pit crew to pass out ice and Gatorade. My partner and daughter also crewed that year, so I joined them at camp that night. That is probably when I decided that I needed to do whatever it took to volunteer for the ride the next year. The sense of community and support was so strong that I couldn't imagine not returning.

Since then I have volunteered every year. I have been a part of the medical team, the medical team captain, and last year I was on the sweep crew. This will be my third year on the Steering Committee. There is no way that I would ever ride, even though everyone that has ridden and crewed says that crew is the harder job. I enjoy the support role and look forward every year to the ride.

Susan Hughes, SC-ACT 7 and 8

Tim Emond's Story
About a year ago, I decided to participate in ACT 7 after hearing from several previous riders what a great experience it was. Initially, I thought of it as a personal challenge as I did not know anyone personally affected by HIV/AIDS, but felt that it was a great cause. It, however, became much more than a personal challenge - it became a life-changing event.

When I started training in March of this year, I can remember thinking, "This is going to be a long summer because I am having difficulty riding 20 miles." Without the sanctioned training rides, I am not sure that I would have had enough self-discipline to get out there and train like I needed to. The more I trained, the more I began to see myself improve. I started to enjoy riding much more and before I knew it, 20 miles was no big deal, especially now that I can say I have completed a century day!

The ride was tough and challenging, and there were times that I just wanted to stop pedaling and take the Sag bus to the next pit. It was at those times that I had to remind myself that people living with HIV/AIDS don't get the option to take the Sag bus; they must deal with AIDS every day of their lives. Fortunately, other riders could sense that I needed a boost, and with their help and support, I never stopped pedaling, and I am so glad that I did not as my one goal for the ride was to ride every mile.

The riding itself is, however, secondary to what the AIDS Network does for the 13 counties that it supports. Now that I personally know people living with HIV/AIDS and have heard their stories, the ride has taken on a whole new meaning. I now understand what it means for those living with HIV/AIDS to have the resources and services available that are provided by the Network. Many of them would probably not have any other avenue to get such support. It is great to be a member of a community that is helping to provide that support and reminds me what can happen when a community comes together for the greater good.

Looking forward to another successful ride in 2010!

Tim Emond, SC-ACT 8

Tina Pacente's Story
I was hooked in to the ACT ride during the training rides for ACT III. I was unable to participate in that ride due to school commitments, but jumped right in on ACT 4 and have been riding ever since.

I joined Steering Committee for ACT 7 as a way to give back to an event that changed my life. I am probably most remembered as the girl who crashed into a mailbox in Door County prohibiting her from riding ACT 7.

Tina Pacente, SC-ACT 7 and 8