Croce, who has already collected more than $12,000 in donations from the Marco Island Kiwanis Club, his students, and others, is asking the public to donate more money in hopes of reaching his $20,000 goal. And since he volunteered to pay for ride supplies out of his own pocket, Croce promises donors that every penny they give will go directly to the Friends-Together campaign.

He began the 500-mile odyssey on March 31, rising at the crack of dawn to stretch his muscles, clear his head, and eat a light breakfast before hitting the streets. He pedaled 100 miles each day, navigating heavy traffic, road construction, wet weather, thick fog, and hilly terrain. Consuming protein bars and energy drinks on the road, Croce developed a surprising taste for Slim Fast that he still hasn't been able to shake. He cruised into the Gulf Coast High School parking lot on April 4, receiving cheers and applause from students and school administrators awaiting his arrival.

Melanie Yules, an assistant principal at the high school who drove the course in Croce's car, was responsible for buying food and arranging hotel rooms at stops along the route. In addition, she relayed pictures from the road via laptop computer to Friends-Together volunteers in Lakeland for use on the organization's Web site. Yules also generated publicity for the ride, including a television interview during a stop in Ocala.

In addition to raising money and HIV/AIDS awareness, Croce hopes his efforts will motivate others to organize similar fundraising projects. "If there's something that calls out to you to do something, then you just have to get up off your fanny and do it," he said. "I hope my students realize that they can do anything they want to do as long as they put their minds to it."

As Friends-Together Founder Cathy Robinson celebrates Croce's contribution to the organization's cause, she encourages each of us to consider what we as individuals can do to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. "The whole idea is to make grassroots efforts available in all communities," she stressed. "And Friends-Together is in a unique position to fill a niche when it comes to education."

Croce is developing math projects for his students that involve cycling speeds and distances recorded during the ride, as well as statistics on HIV/AIDS. "It's amazing when you talk to kids and they think that it's over, or they still think it's a gay disease, or they still think it's not going to affect them," he said. "My hope is that the kids will open their eyes to some of the figures."

Friends-Together notes that Florida is ranked third in the nation for total reported AIDS cases and first for pediatric AIDS cases. In addition, 1 in 156 people in the state are believed to be infected with HIV.

As researchers count the number of men, women, and children who are infected with HIV/AIDS, it is more difficult to gauge the number of relatives and friends who are affected by the disease. Croce, who himself has lost several friends to HIV/AIDS, remembers one Marco Island couple who sponsored him during a charity ride last year after their son succumbed to the disease.

"My role as a teacher extends beyond the math class," he reiterated. "Teaching students to think and make good decisions is an overriding role of any educator. I just want kids to be aware."