I was 37, maybe 36, not sure, and I sat down to watch a movie on Netflix. The movie seemed like it was telling my life story at the time. I was the host of an online radio show, so I looked into the star of the movie, mentioned it to the followers on my Facebook page and I was just coming down from the high of a very successful interview with another actress and my followers told me to get this lady for my next interview.

I researched this actress, got in touch with her and I finally talked her into coming on my show, but she convinced me to save my life. You’re probably thinking, what? Well, let me explain. She and a few others convinced me to take on the challenge of riding my bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles with a bunch of other crazy, beautiful, awesome people and if you know the state, you know that is a very long ride, almost the length of the state (545 miles).

So, I began training, which was excruciating. I saw this woman on training rides, she would even help me out on a ride or two. She inspired me in spin classes and not by doing much, just simply leading by example. I would eventually remember things like the way she said she ate, and more so, what she didn’t eat, when I realized I couldn’t keep up on training rides. I would hold on to something she said once about yoga when I needed to stretch more and like I said, she never barked at you or told you what to do, not even a suggestion, I just watched the woman who would become our AIDS/LifeCycle Team Goodisness captain, actress, badass and philanthropist Traci Dinwiddie and grabbed whatever I thought I needed to survive.

What I ended up grabbing was the deletion of meat from my diet, as it was weighing me down, mostly getting rid of sweets, bread and French fries, which I love. All of these things were gone, even before our departure to the Bay.

Everything went wrong before I headed to San Francisco to start the ride. My car completely broke down, I was laid off, one thing after another, after another, but I had to make this trip. I said I was going to do it and I never break my word, but it seemed to be more than that this time. It was like some entity was pushing me all the way and would not let up

Once in the Bay, I slowly realized what I had gotten myself into. All of a sudden I knew that I would not return to Los Angeles the same person I was when I left a few days before.

During training I had been the slowest person on every ride and people said the momentum will carry you your first day and you’ll be fine and so on and so on and of course, I did not believe them. We rode 83 miles the first day of the ride, which I finished every mile. I didn’t get off my bike to walk any of the mileage that day and that surprised me because there were some awful hills, even on the first day, but I peddled and peddled to the end and I swear if I could I would give you blow by blow, every day and every step of the journey, I would, but in the interest of time, let’s cut to the chase.

I have never felt so loved by so many people. I have never felt so in unison with so many beautiful people in my life. I was raised in the church and I have never seen so much love and genuine concern for one another. I rode every day, I didn’t finish each day, however I completed more days than not, but what’s important is that I not only learned about HIV/AIDS, but because of all of those wonderful people and all of my Team Goodisness sisters, I learned about me, my strength, myself and my life has changed because of this ride.

What I picked up didn’t wear off when I returned. I have made a radical change since returning to my hometown. I took a look at myself and realized I had been on autopilot my whole adult life and decided I didn’t want to live like that anymore.

I have since gotten on the path to make a career change, my diet and exercise have remained the same and I stopped consuming alcohol as well and the only thing I can credit is God, for weaving everything that led up to AIDS/LifeCycle 2014.

This ride has changed me from the “quote spewing, pick your spirits up and ignore mine girl” to the newly, “wanting to learn more, lover of you and I, authentic woman.”

This ride was what I needed to do, this was ride was my destiny and it smacked me in the face with love for others and myself. There was no way this train was leaving without me and I am poised to do it all over again next year.

I have 78 new sisters and one brother and they span over 14 countries and God knows how many states and I believe the bulk of us will remain friends for the rest of our lives. Join us: A group of sisters, with the exception of our one brother, from all over the globe and it is truly a family affair. When they tell you that you will never be the same, they are right. This experience will definitely change your life if you allow it. See you on the road.

Learn more about Team Goodiness or contribute to Dana’s ride.

Dana Brenklin is a Los Angeles based radio personality, award-winning poet and musician. Her radio show, “The Dana Brenklin Radio Show,” airs Thursdays at 9am pacific on kclaFM.com. Find out more at DanaBrenklin.com or listen To Dana’s shows on demand.

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The post Team Goodisness, Traci Dinwiddie raise over $300,000 for AIDS LifeCycle first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Ready to go! (Photo courtesy Dana Brenklin)

BY DANA BRENKLIN
Lesbian.com

As I begin this story, let me tell you, I am not a cyclist. I know no more about a bicycle than peddling, stopping and starting.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let me begin. I host a lesbian-centric online radio show and after two successful interviews with two awesome women and supporters of the show requesting her, I thought I’d try soliciting actress Traci Dinwiddie. Well, once we began corresponding she invited me to ride with a team (T-Bugs) of people for AIDS/LifeCycle 2014, called Team Goodisness.

I’ve always wanted to be sort of a fitness guru or maybe just get in great physical shape but that wasn’t in the cards for me as a child or even as an adult up until now. I was something of a sickly child and adult, among other things, however, I am not anymore. So, I researched this ride and saw how passionate Traci was about what she was doing and after much thought and anticipation, I said yes.

For years I’ve said that I was going to be in the best shape of my life by the time I reached the age of 40. I claimed it, just as I claimed the year 2013 to be my year, just as I’ve claimed everything in my life, as I walk by faith, not by sight. With that claiming, I don’t believe it is in anyway a coincidence that I am involved with this year’s ride. Upon deciding to participate, I have had to change my diet and habits, just as I had intended before this journey dropped into my lap. I realize that this is no joke. I am not in the best shape. My diet has had to change, my exercising has increased, my coffee intake is less and my water intake is much greater.

The physicality of this undertaking is overwhelming, but I am on my way and nothing is going to stop me. I have never been able to take on a feat such as this in my life and I am nothing but grateful for the opportunity to give my heart, mind and body to such a cause. I am certain I will be forever changed when we sail through to the finish line and I know I will be helping my brothers and sisters suffering from HIV/AIDS live more abundant and healthy lives because of the money being raised.

So far, I have been on one training ride (28 miles) that I thought was going to kill me, but I am still here and more motivated than ever. Come along and take this daunting and exciting journey with me. I am truly inspired and I think you will be too.

Team Goodisness has a collective $300,000 goal to reach to help support people living with HIV/AIDS.

Each team member sets a goal for donations, which you can help them reach. Thanks for your generous support of Dana’s participation! To learn more about Team Goodisness, which includes Traci Dinwiddie, Cathy DeBuono, our own Shannon Wentworth, Nicole Conn and others, visit ToFightHIV.org.

The post Riding to end HIV/AIDS: Joining Team Goodisness and AIDS/LifeCycle 2014 first appeared on Lesbian.com.