Gulf Coast High pedals for a cause

Students go on virtual ride to help raise awareness, money for AIDS organization

Rebecca Endrelunas, media specialist at Gulf Coast High School, stood before a group of students and said she had an announcement.

"I have Mr. (Thom) Croce on the phone. He said the front end of the group is at the 50-mile mark and the back end is at the 40-mile mark," she said.

To the students, all members of health teacher Julie Sprague’s class, that was nothing. They already had biked 155.2 miles when he called.

"In fairness, he said there is a strong head wind and traffic," Endrelunas said with a laugh.

The students took turns, spending 15 minutes pedaling one of two stationary bikes to raise money for Friends Together, an organization that works with children and families dealing with the HIV and AIDS viruses. Their ride coincided with AIDS Ride 6: Riding for a Cause.

The ride was started six years ago by Croce, a math teacher at Gulf Coast High School. Friday morning, students and teachers watched as Croce took off on his bicycle for the 320-mile bike ride.

"We wanted to bring awareness for the people who struggle with this disease," Sprague said.

She said the students saw Cathy Robinson-Pickett, founder of Friends Together and a woman living with AIDS, speak a couple of weeks ago, and that piqued their interest.

Sprague also wanted the students to understand what it meant to set goals and work as a team. She challenged each of her classes to bike more miles than the previous class. Block 1 students biked 40.2 miles. Block 2 upped that by biking 47.6 miles. By Block 3, students were able to ride 69.66 miles before the bell rang.

The students also brought in money for Friends Together. Sprague challenged her classes to raise enough money for a child to go to Camp Wingman, which hosts a camp for children infected or affected by the HIV and AIDS viruses.

Block 2 raised $145.48, enough money for one child to go to the camp, Sprague said. The block 3 class raised $56.72, but asked her for an extension, which was granted.

Before lunch, Sprague opened a note handed to her from a Gulf Coast teacher. Inside was a check for $100.

"That’s so awesome," she said.

While the students rode, a slide show of facts on HIV and AIDS, as well as photos from last year’s ride, flashed on a projector screen in the media center.

Freshman Rebeca Butar, 15, said it wasn’t easy.

"I’m kinda tired. My legs are sore," she said. "I am starting to breathe a little deep. But I like this. It is something different. And it is for a good cause."

Kristen Hernandez, 15, didn’t get to ride during her health class, so she gave up her lunch period to come to the media center and ride.

"AIDS is so horrible. Anything we can do to raise awareness and money will help," she said. "I think it is great. I wish more people would do it."

During some of the classes, guidance counselor Kim Walsh, who also teaches Spinning at the NCH Wellness Center, came down to talk to the students about the benefits of biking.

"I think it is awesome, especially to get the kids involved," she said. "Getting involved this way as opposed to just lecturing with facts on HIV and AIDS is much more valuable to the students."

Bo Logan, 14, rode the bike in a shirt and a tie.

"It was harder because it is hot in here," he said of riding in an unusual getup. "But this is better because we are not sitting in class. We get to work out and help the kids."

Croce will return from his ride Sunday afternoon. Last year, the ride raised almost $28,000 for Friends Together.

For more information or to contribute, visit www.friendstogether.org.