Join Us in Support of Dale Stanley's Important Contribution - We Are So Proud of Him

Dale Stanley is our Sharing Guy's Journey Guest Blogger is this time out.

Dale is one of my best friends and in addition to his professional work at Gilead Sciences in Foster City, CA on a less-formal basis Dale is SMR International's Senior Consultant and Marketing and Operations Manager.

So we spend a lot of time together, working on our various and many projects (including our KM/knowledge services teaching for our students and clients) and enjoying one another's company.

I'm honored today to share with our friends, clients, and colleagues Dale's great adventure.

This is a very important cause - critical, really - and I hope you will join Andrew and me in support of this good work from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

Let's let Dale tell you about it:

Hi there,

I’ll be riding my bicycle 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles on May 31st - June 6th, 2015. It’s a long way and it won’t be easy for this old guy – averaging 80 miles per day for a week and camping along the way.

I’m doing it because the money we raise actually helps to save lives. I’ll be participating in the AIDS/LifeCycle, in support of the life-saving services offered by San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. I know I can do it, but I need your help - help with a little financial support.

Dale Stanley

Medications for HIV/AIDS have come a long way and people are living longer, healthier lives. Of course, that’s great. It’s also why the work of these organizations is so important. They provide the critical education and support systems that allow HIV victims to get and maintain the life-saving therapies. The drugs can only save their lives if they get tested and have access to all the therapies and services necessary. Our ride literally means the world to those who receive treatment. 

And your support means the world to me. Those of you who know me professionally know of Gilead Sciences and how the company I work for has been life-saving to the millions who take our HIV drugs. At work, I hear daily of the struggles and efforts to improve and to get these therapies to those who have contracted the HIV virus. Many of my colleagues in Gilead's Medical Affairs and other departments are physicians and healthcare workers who have seen first-hand the devastating effects of AIDS. I personally know several who have lost loved ones and who have dedicated their careers to saving others. My work at Gilead continues to help them and I am inspired to do more. 

Those of you who know me outside of work know that I am committed and involved in my church and in a community organization focusing on helping the "least, the lost, and the lonely" in our society. This has certainly included the LGBT community which has been disproportionately affected by this disease. You have taught me and changed me.

I'm dedicating this ride to our fellow humans who are suffering, who continue to suffer, and to my late professor at USC who in 1983 suffered and died a horrible and scary death from AIDS before we even knew what was happening.

My goal is to raise $5,000. That’s a mere $10 per mile from all of you, my friends.  I’m asking you to join me in this effort. Twenty five or 50 cents per mile would do it. Absolutely any amount would be greatly appreciated because I would know you’re with me on this journey to make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past.

Here’s a link to my donation site:  http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/Events/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3090257&pg=personal&fr_id=1770

Thanks.

And thanks to you, Dale, for doing this. We are all very grateful to you.