University of Central Arkansas Police Capt. Jeremy Crabb wasn’t a serious cyclist or even in great shape a decade ago when he saw an ad in the San Francisco subway for the AIDS LifeCycle bike race.
“It just called out to me; I knew I wanted to do that one day,” he said.
Crabb got serious and got in shape. He participated in the race in 2013, and he’s gearing up to ride a seven-day, 545-mile race in June, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. His goal is to raise $5,000 before he leaves Conway.
“I was drawn to it because it was an HIV/AIDS charity event, and that’s kind of close to my heart, and because of my interest in cycling,” he said.
“Being part of the gay community, there’s a lot of stigma attached to that itself; there’s a great deal of stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.”
Crabb is not HIV positive.
People “assume a lot of things about somebody who is HIV positive. I can relate to assumptions and being stigmatized, and it has over the years affected gay men disproportionately, but they’re not the only population affected with it. HIV and AIDS affect everybody; it does not discriminate — it’s old, young, every race, every background and socioeconomic status.”
All the money he raises will benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. “It’s not easy to fundraise here in Arkansas for organizations that reside and operate in California,” he said.
However, he said the foundation and the center “are heavily involved in endeavors that mean a lot to people around the country and even around the world.” He said the work they do includes drug research, education, prevention and national advocacy.
“One of those services that really touches my heart is what the LA LGBT Center does for homeless youth,” Crabb said. “A disproportionate number of homeless youth are gay, who have been kicked out of their homes. I just can’t imagine being a child, or a parent of a child, and kicking them out of home just because they were gay or lesbian or transgender.”
Crabb said it was difficult to tell his parents he was gay, but he said they have a close relationship now.
“You don’t have to be gay to look to the LGBT Center for services; they will help anybody who walks in,” he said.
Crabb said he isn’t participating in the race just because he is gay.
“It’s also a very challenging event,” he said. “We ride all day every day for seven days.” Participants sleep in tents along the route, and there are shower trailers.
“There will be almost 3,000 cyclists, so it will seriously be a moving city every day,” Crabb said. He said this year’s race will include participants from 39 states and 17 countries.
“There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of camaraderie,” he said. “It will take over 500 volunteers to produce the event, to move everything and provide food at rest stops and lunch, and dinner and set up camp and take down camp. They do it up right; wonderful meals — there’s a lot of food. You’re burning a lot of calories to get that [545 miles] done.
“All you’ve got to do is ride; anybody can do it,” he said. In 2013, he said an 85-year-old man and woman participated in the race.
Crabb, 35, said he doesn’t have a set training schedule to get ready.
“I stay pretty busy with work and family life. My typical ride … is at least 30 miles. If I get 50 or 60 miles in, I feel like I’ve gotten a pretty good ride. On occasion, I get 80 miles,” he said. “I don’t have any hesitation about whether I’ll be physically prepared to get on the bike and ride.”
The race is June 5-11.
“We as a community need to stand up and support, without prejudice, those who are affected by HIV and AIDS,” Crabb said. “My participation in AIDS/LifeCycle is just my way of doing my part to increase awareness, support research and education, fight stigma, and support the health and well-being of those affected by HIV and AIDS.
“This cause is important to me, and means a lot to a lot of people, and I’m not afraid to support it,” he said.
To make a donation, go to tiny.cc/jcrabb. Crabb said he can be reached at jcrabb.alc@gmail.com. More information about the race can be found at www.aidslifecycle.org.
Senior Writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.