Hey TogetheRiders!

The time is NOW to reach out to your community and share why you are passionate about our cause to end AIDS. With World AIDS Day just around the corner we are presented with a unique platform to shine a light on our mission and the work of San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. We are humbled and uplifted by so many of you in the community who have set TogetheRide mileage and fundraising goals and are already working hard to reach them!

We’re cheering hard for Jonathan Cresson from Team Portland, who has already raised $1,318 for his TogetheRide fundraising campaign! We love Jonathan’s mileage goal to ride a mile for each dollar he raises!

Why not plan your own momentous feat like Jonathan? Send an email to ten of your donors, asking them to sponsor you $1 for every mile you ride in the next two weeks. Set a goal for yourself – whether it’s a century, a 50-mile ride, or some other fabulous challenge, and put yourself and your goal out there to ask for support from your donors.

In the words of Amy Poehler:

“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life forever.”

We’re here to support you in your goals, and hope you’ll include us in every step of your journey. Use the hashtag #togetheride to keep us updated along the way!

Dear TogetheRep Aurelia,

I want to share my TogetheRide campaign on social media, but I don’t know what to write! Can you offer some tips on creating a message to friends and family?

Sincerely,
Timid Tony

1. Dig deep on the *why* – why are you passionate about this cause? Give folx an opportunity to learn about the cause.

2. Set a goal and ask folx in your network for support! It’s motivating for poeple to see you setting a goal and going for it, and the vulnerability and humility in the act of sharing it will inspire them to support you!

3. Keep it simple! Try to keep your pitch short – a brief paragraph that gets to the heart of your message is key!

Check out TogetheRider Tamara Marsh, caretaker to bicycles and friend to many cyclists in the community! Tamara is logging between 150 and 200 miles every week toward TogetheRide, and keeping all of our bicycles safe and healthy along the way! WOW!

And how about Chris Cowen in Gainesville, Florida getting AFTER IT! Chris has already raised $5,000, making him the highest fundraiser of any participant outside of California so far! Amazing job, Chris!