In the beginning…

It was I who somehow persuaded a group of friends and associates to help me organize a yearlong self-contained bicycle tour around the continental United States. How we chose AIDS as the cause doesn’t actually matter today, all I know is at the time it was important to all of us involved that we do something. So from June 5, 1993 to May 21, 1994, we did just that, something, and we called it Dream Ride for AIDS. And when I finally returned 50 weeks and 13,108.6 miles later, I knew we had done something pretty extraordinary. Margaret Meade would have been proud of this small band of do-gooders, I believe she would have. We reached a lot of Americans and helped many local AIDS Service organizations raise some important awareness and even in some cases some much-needed money.

After that….

I continued to crusade for the AIDS cause, focusing my efforts on prevention more than services or research. And somehow I continued to persuade people and organizations to work with me through the Dream Ride for AIDS organization. I was still the only one in the organization "riding" for the cause and only a few of the original group had stayed on board. So in 1995 when I bicycled the perimeter of the state of Pennsylvania on Dream Ride for AIDS, PA I was fortunate to have the support of the Lancaster County Chapter of the American Red Cross and together with other state chapters we reached over 5,000 youths. In 1996 and 1997 Dream Ride for AIDS was involved in or organized several additional events that would encourage others to actually "ride" for the cause including the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization event, the Dream Ride for AIDS, Road to the QUILT, the Michael D. Hartranft Memorial Scholarship for AIDS Education.

Since then…..

The organization took on a new name in 1997, which you know us as now, Dream Ride Projects. And we are probably now most known for organizing the Dream Ride for Lancaster County bicycling event the second and third Saturday of June. Over $450,000 has been raised by more than 40 local charities since 1995!

We are still basically……

The same organization that set such a lofty goal for ourselves back in 1993 when we knew that AIDS should be seen as a very serious health crisis, except now we are facing additional health issues like obesity and air quality. There are a few new faces around here focusing our activities on a more local level and we are stronger bicycle advocates. Which means I'm not the only one riding these days! And although I'm always the one most visible, I don't make a move without consulting our Board of Directors.

Today…….

Dream Ride Projects is now about promoting healthy lifestyles and disease prevention through bicycling activities, programs, and special projects and is the parent organization for all Dream Ride activities.

Dream Ride Cycling is made up of adult and youth who support the mission and programs of Dream Ride Projects through their volunteer activities. These activities include the CYCLE SMART Bicycling Program, Bike Month in Lancaster, and Dream Ride for Lancaster County.

Dream Ride Cycling Team for Youth is our latest activity and its objective is to get more kids on bikes, more often, AND encourage them to engage in important community service projects like the Michael D. Hartranft Memorial Scholarship for AIDS Education.

My Dream continues to be to build an organization focusing on the fundamentals of Community & Personal Health and Well-being, using the bicycle as the message vehicle.

I Want To Thank Everyone for being a part of this dream!