Carey Drumright
One thing noteworthy about Carey Drumright, a safety adviser in the UCSF Office of Environmental Health & Safety, he's flexible.
After his third year participating in the AIDS/LifeCycle, he was on his way to his fourth AIDS/LifeCycle orientation to be part of the motorcycle safety crew when, in the parking lot the day before the ride, his motorcycle developed a gas leak and had to be towed away. That didn't deter Drumright. Instead, he joined the medical team and set off on AIDS/LifeCycle 4. He's been part of the event, as a rider or a "roadie," every year since it started six years ago.
This year, if he can raise enough funds, he'll go as a rider for the 545-mile trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles on June 3 through 9. But if he doesn't manage to come up with the $2,500, he'll go along again as one of the 500-plus volunteer support staff to make the ride happen. (See Drumright's
webpage here.)
"We all use that catchphrase, 'It takes a village.'" Drumright said. "When you're on the ride, we are a village. By the third day, everyone is exhausted, both physically and emotionally, yet people still find the energy to set up other people's tents or help with luggage. "If there's a bit of strength in everybody, it all adds up. It can't be any clearer to me than on this ride."
On his fourth event, Drumright volunteered with the medical crew. He said they saw "a lot of sore butts, dehydration and road rash." But, he added, there were certainly more serious things for the medical staff to attend to, and there is always an ambulance at the ready if necessary.
Drumright related part of his experience as a volunteer on the medical team, where he made sure other staff, volunteers and patients got meals when they didn't have the energy or time to go themselves.
The ride goes through many small towns, and while Drumright isn't sure how the ride's presence changes the townspeople, he is sure it has an effect on the riders. "We are giving back to the community," he said.
Drumright described how the town of Bradley holds its biggest annual fundraiser when the ride comes through, selling lunch to riders, and how riders are reminded that there are people, like migrant farmworkers out there day after day in the hot sun toiling, who take the time to wave to and cheer on the riders.
While it's still up in the air as to how Drumright will participate in AIDS/LifeCycle 6, there is no doubt he will be there this year, and for years to come. For more information on Drumright's experience, please visit the
website.
Related Links:
AIDS/LifeCycle
Training for AIDS LifeCycle Puts Knee Replacement into Perspective UCSF Today, March 12, 2007
