Michel Fortier/Staff Gulf Coast High School teacher Thom Croce, center, gets hosed down with Silly String by supporters such as Joshua Robinson, 17, right, at the completion of a 100 mile-a-day bicycle ride Friday from Tallahassee to raise money for the Friends Together organization.

Bikers arrive in Naples at end of AIDS trek

By RAY PARKER, brparker@naplesnews.com
March 26, 2005

After her 500-mile bike ride, Julie Sprague crashed at the finish line.

She survived obstacles. There was the harsh weather starting out in Tallahassee, a red face and swollen legs throughout, and the detour after a bank robbery in Ocala.

But Silly String did her in on Friday during the Naples victory lap.

"The hardest part," she said, pausing to look at the questioner with a look of disbelief on her face. "You're really going to ask me."

Then another pause.

"The hardest part was getting my hand on the brake and shooting Silly String," she said, referring to the aerosol can that shoots foam-looking-string goop.

During spring break this week, Sprague and other riders trekked from Tallahassee to Naples, pedaling 100 miles a day for a cause no longer in the media spotlight: HIV/AIDS. Thom Croce, a fellow Gulf Coast High teacher, spearheaded the event that raised $50,000 this year. A 13-year-old rider collected $25,000.

Cathy Robinson founded the nonprofit Friends Together organization, and every year hosts five free camps for HIV-positive children and families. One of those retreats had to be canceled this year because of lack of money.

	HELPING OUT
	Those interested in contributing to the nonprofit Friends Together organization can write to: Friends-Together/AIDS Ride, SunTrust Bank, Attn: John Myles, 801 Laurel Oak Drive, Naples 34108, or log onto at www.friendstogether.org.

So her 13-year-old son, Garrett, decided to ride this year and a donor heard about his efforts and contributed a big check.

"The best part was watching Thom fall on the second day, his wheel went straight up," the boy joked, looking over at Croce.

There was fun along the way for a serious cause.

"I continue to do it because HIV continues to be a problem," Croce said, his face two shades darker than when he started out a week ago.

He pointed out some statistics:

• Florida has the third-highest number of AIDS cases in the nation;

• It has the second-highest number of pediatric and female AIDS cases;

• And more than 100,000 Floridians were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS as of 2001.

Joe Croce, Thom's brother from Long Island, joined the group.

"You've really got to train a good five months," said Joe Croce, a retired New York City police detective.

When she was 18, an attacker robbed Robinson of more than her dignity and infected her with the HIV virus. Today, the 39-year-old Lakeland woman continues her educational efforts, speaking to groups around the country to raise awareness about the disease.

She's been visiting Collier schools for a decade.

"(The bike fund-raiser) has really taken off," said Robinson, who joined 50 other supporters to welcome the riders back to Naples. "But we're really always fund raising."

Hurricanes knocked out many donations this year.

Rex and Nora Duley of Lehigh Acres adopted their son, Zakarey, 5, after listening to a Robinson speech.

"The camps are great; it's about education and educating other people," Nora Duley said. "Our biggest issue is disclosure. I don't want anybody treating him differently."

North Fort Myers High School junior Joshua Robinson, no relation to Cathy Robinson, joined the Friends Together teen group, speaking out to his peers about the disease.

"So far, I haven't been able to speak at school," the 17-year-old said. "They're really conservative."

After her mishap on the Gulf Coast High curb, Sprague inspected the small cut on her arm, but otherwise called the bike trek a success.

"It's an important project," said the health teacher.