Big Bike on Buffalo Rising

Buffalo Rising Online posted a story about the upcoming Big Kahuna Ride. Thanks to Colden and Julie for the great photos!

Telling the Naked Truth

This is an excerpt from The Naked Truth, a new memoir by Marvelyn Brown:

My name is Marvelyn Brown and I am HIV positive. It took me so long to look in the mirror and be able to utter those words. When I look at myself today, I don't see HIV. What I see instead is a young, beautiful, worthy and positive woman. It is for this reason that I chose to place HIV in parentheses for the title of my book. Why is this important? Because we exist in a world where we continue to define the disease as only affecting people with a certain look or belonging to a certain socioeconomic group. I'm living proof that nothing is farther from the truth.

Put a Condom on Your... Cell Phone??

One of the hottest ringtones in India isn't by Usher or Justin Timberlake... it's a voice that says "Condom Condom" to announce incoming calls. It's part of a media campaign designed to promote safer sex and help tackle the inhibitions and taboos associated with condom use. The ringtone has already been downloaded 60,000 times.

Thanks to Kate for the tip!

On the Road with the Buffalo Wings

Marti Rosen sent us these great photos from the Empire State AIDS Ride. Our Buffalo Wings once again represented ACS on this 560 mile, week long bicycle ride. Awesome job, guys!

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They're Back!

Our Buffalo Wings are back home from the Empire State AIDS Ride, safe and sound and ready to catch up on their sleep! Rumor has it this year's route was extra grueling but our riders were up to the challenge. Check back for more pictures from the Ride coming soon!

Buffalo Wings Update (Part II)

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Buffalo Wings Update

We're getting daily updates from our Buffalo Wings team as they bike across New York State in the Empire State AIDS Ride. Our sources say Kat is riding strong and hasn't stopped smiling! Shown above: Kat, Gary, Ron and Tom at the Ride Kick-Off at Terrapin Point in Niagara Falls. Thanks to Chris for the photo!

Our Garden Makes News!

Susan Harris of GardenRant.com visited the Victorian during Garden Walk, and she wrote a great story about our garden HERE. Congratulations to Chris Voltz - the kudos just keep coming in for the beautiful space he's created out of nothing in our own back yard!

Home Sweet Home

Safe secure housing is one of the basic necessities of life, and it's especially important for people who are struggling with HIV or AIDS. AIDS Community Services has a wide range of programs available to help clients and their families find and keep a place to call home. Programs include emergency rental and utility assistance, housing subsidies and placement assistance. All case managed clients are eligible to apply. For information call 847-2441.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

August marks the beginning of the six-month countdown to National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2009, and recent CDC statistics underscore how important it is to keep raising awareness of the disease and its impact on the black community. According to the CDC figures, just over 56,000 new HIV infections were recorded in the United States in 2006. Male to male sexual contact accounted for 53% of those new infections, heterosexual contact for 31% and injection drug use for 12%. The rate of infection among blacks was more than 7 times that among whites: 83.7 new infections per 100,000 people vs. 11.5 for whites. Blacks also accounted for the largest share - 45% - of new infections. The purpose of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is to help educate the black community about HIV and AIDS, as well as to reduce the stigma of talking about HIV in public. Testing also plays a major role. For more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day contact info@blackaidsday.org or visit www.blackaidsday.org. You can also contact the Prevention staff at ACS by calling 847-0315.

One Step at a Time

It's amazing what something as simple as a brick can do. A little block of baked clay can shelter, transport, protect, support, or even inspire. And now with ACS's new Hope Blooms Commemorative Walkway, a single brick can honor a loved one and help those who are fighting this disease. The brick Walkway will connect Elmwood Avenue to the Garden at the Victorian, a garden created for and by people living with HIV, which provides a peaceful sanctuary for clients and visitors to the agency. Each brick can be custom engraved with an inspirational message or the name of a loved one you'd like to pay tribute to. The funds raised will help purchase even more bricks - and steel and glass - for the Evergreen Center, a brand new state of the art facility which will allow ACS to provide innovative new services to the thousands of Western New Yorkers affected by HIV and AIDS. Whether you choose a single brick, a granite paver, a bench or even a grouping, your support will make a difference in the lives of people who struggle with HIV and at the same time create a lasting, visible tribute to your loved one. For more information on the Hope Blooms Tribute Walkway email koczek@aidscommunityservices.com

Riding a Bicycle Built for... 30??

Our bicycle theme continues with the Big Kahuna Ride (September 18), which marks the US debut of the Big Bike, a specially built bicycle with seating for 30 riders. They'll pedal around downtown Buffalo and along the waterfront, beginning and ending at Shanghai Red's (also the location for the super-fun post party!). We'll have more details soon, or you can contact Colden at cray@aidscommunityservices.com. Photo: the Big Bike caught mid-turn in Toronto.