Hi! My name is Thomas Croce and beginning Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9, 2004, I’ll be participating in an exciting 5 day, 500 mile bike ride to raise money for, and awareness of, people in Florida living with HIV/AIDS. The ride will go from Tallahassee, Florida to Naples, Florida and the proceeds of the ride will benefit Friends-Together, Inc, an organization started by my good friends Cathy Robinson and Steve Pickett. While there have been many advances in the war on AIDS, the statistics are still staggering when we look at the effects here in Florida.

• Over 100,000 Floridians were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS as of 1/2001.
• 5,000 men, women and children are newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS each year in Florida.
• Florida has the third highest number of total AIDS cases in the nation.
• Florida has the second highest number of pediatric and female AIDS cases in the nation.
• Over 900,000 people in the US are living with HIV/AIDS and over 450,000 have died in the US since 1981.

Friends Together is a grass roots, non-profit organization established in 2000 with the goal of helping to empower, mentor, educate and network for people in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many of these people are dealing with secrets, grief, death and dying, as well as poverty, educational barriers and isolation. Friends Together was designed to act as a support system based in knowledge to allow people infected by and affected by HIV/AIDS to take power over their lives.

This year I had the fortune of attending one of the Friends-Together camps and I was truly amazed and moved by what’s being accomplished. This work is so important and must continue. And my goal for fundraising is an amazing $20,000. Now here's the part where you come in! You can take part in this amazing journey without ever having to get on a bicycle! All you need to do is fill out the pledge form on the reverse of this letter and leave the pedaling to me! Please keep in mind the ride I am undertaking and the message that this will send out literally across the state of Florida. Thank you in advance for your support and partnership. Remember, together we all make a difference.

Sincerely,



Thomas Croce