Thetford - The AIDS Community Resource Network, headquartered in Lebanon, NH, will benefit from a locally organized AIDS ride on September 12. In its second year, the ride is hoping to exceed last year's tally of fewer than 50 riders and less than $1,000 raised.
     The ride is being organized and heavily supported again this year by furniture maker Pompanoosuc Mills, in East Thetford, Vermont. This year, the organizers are benefiting from the experience of Rob Healy, a veteran of three Boston-to-New-York AIDS rides who now works at the company. Healy credited his boss, Dwight Sargent, with doing "an incredible job to raise what he did" in the first year of the ride.
     Several Pompanoosuc Mills employees are on the ACoRN board of directors, Healy said, making the company's sponsorship of a fundraiser a natural fit.
     The first challenge was to simply pick a date that didn't conflict with another event. "There are so many causes and weekend events - cancer, Alzheimer's, AIDS, MS," Healy said.
     Now the challenge is to get the word out to people who love to ride and/or are committed to raising awareness and funds to fight HIV/AIDS. "We're awarding a prize to the participant who has come from the furthest distance," said Healy. And the prizes aren't too shabby, either. Last year, the top fundraiser received a digital camera.
     This ride is a one-day event, featuring 3 levels of rides: 13 miles, 25 miles, and 55 miles. Riders will set off at 9 a.m. from the Pompanoosuc Mills store and factory to follow mapped out routes with rest stops along the way.
     Each rider is expected to raise at least $50 from friends, family, neighbors, and/or coworkers. While serious riders often participate in overnight rides just for the pleasure of the ride - and the luxury of having luggage, meals, and overnight accommodations taken care of - the ACoRN ride is a more casual, fun ride, though still well-organized, promises Healy.
     For more information, contact ACoRN at 603-448-8887or Rob Healy at 802-785-4851, ext. 522.