The sisters, both school teachers, grew up in Buffalo, NY. Margaret currently lives in Ithaca, NY and Jessica resides near Southampton, in the town of Hampton Bays. They found the Empire State AIDS Ride particularly appealing because it focuses on helping people within New York state. Since 2002, they have ridden in several different AIDS rides across the country, and have raised over $25,000 (with the help of a third sister, Juliet) for AIDS research and services.

Prior to their involvement, the sisters had no personal connection to the disease, but have since become advocates for AIDS research and awareness.

This disease has been around for 25 years, since I was three years old, so if it began then, there is no reason why it can't end in my lifetime. All we can do is pedal our bikes and raise awareness to say 'let's stop this disease.'
—Jessica Allen, Southampton Press, 2006

AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS) is the largest organization solely dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS services to people in New York's Hudson Valley Region. It was founded in 1983 by a small group of lesbian and gay citizens who refused to stand idly by in the face of government inaction as this disease devasted those they loved. Since then, the Agency has grown to service the needs of over 25,000 community members annually.

In 2007, the foundation supported Stuart Okorofsky, who has ridden in 14 AIDS rides over the past 11 years, at least one and sometimes two rides per year. This year he rode as an independent, meaning that his donor's funds went to the "general ride fund". The following is his story:

Stuart was born and raised in Brooklyn, and attended the University of Buffalo, completing a BS in Computer Science (back in the days of punch cards and mainframes that took up entire buildings). He eventually settled in Rosendale (Ulster County), and after working as a contractor for many years, he recently returned to computer programming.

"My brother died of AIDS in 1992. He was 38 and lived in San Francisco. I was very close to him and visited him often. When he was diagnosed, I spent a lot of time with him while he was still healthy. We knew that we would not have a lot of quality time left. AIDS was a death sentence in 1992. When he got sick, I basically lived out there with him.

A couple of years after he died, I was reading the Sunday Times and saw a full page ad for the Boston to NY AIDS Ride. Three days, 275 miles. I hadn't ridden a bike in 20 years. I bought a bike and started training. I raised a lot of money and did the ride. I learned of other AIDS rides around the country. I did the Calif Ride 5 times. It is 7 days, 600 miles from San Francisco to LA. I have done AIDS rides in Alaska and Canada as well. Five years ago, Marty Rosen started the Empire State AIDS Ride so I started doing that ride and have done all of them; this is the fifth year of that ride.

This is the eleventh consecutive year that I will be riding in at least one AIDS ride. When I did my first ride I didn't give any thought to how long I'd be doing these rides. The AIDS crisis has improved in some ways and has gotten worse in other respects. Certainly because of advances in drug research, some people are living a lot longer than they ever expected to. Unfortunately each year more and more people are infected with HIV.

I continue to ride and raise money for those people who are infected and need help. When my brother was dying of AIDS 15 years ago, he asked that any donations made in his name be given to local AIDS organizations. He was very fortunate in that he had countless friends and family members near him the entire time he was fighting the disease. However, there were still occasions where he needed some small help from local AIDS organizations, and he called on their services. He was one of the lucky ones who had insurance, family and friends; many, many other people aren't as fortunate.

—Stuart Okorofsky

Excerpts from Tracy's Roadside Diary:

August 13, 2007
A brief update before dessert from Seneca Lake-side. Despite a cancelled flight, flat tire at the start line, and driving rain the last 10 miles, I managed to successfully navigate 109 miles yesterday and another 74 today. Except for that rain, the weather and hills have been tolerable but tomorrow the more challenging hills begin. Now we'll see how those standing hill climbs in spin class have paid off... Time for ice cream!!!

August 14, 2007
End of Day 3 and the last day I'll have phone service for a few days— frankly, my favorite days of the year, though I'll pay for it physically. For those who asked, hoped and prayed, YES the weather improved. Today we had glorious weather and the 10-12 degree difference from last year made today's climbs so much easier. I even did the optional 1 mile climb to the falls that I'd skipped last year. All together we rode 80 miles through Ithaca to a peaceful campsite near Binghamton. We had a few bike problems on our team and a couple of medical incidents but nothing our crack mechanical and medical teams and free ice cream couldn't cure. The next 3 days will get progressively harder as we climb into the Catskills. I'm feeling good if not always strong. Slow n' steady is still my motto—til I come screaming downhill!

August 17, 2007
End of Day 6 - the hardest day with 3 big hills in the last 22 of 70 miles. We climbed 6000 vertical feet!!! But this year was significantly easier than last year - instead of 90 degree sunshine, it was overcast all day with a cooling shower through the 2nd hill. Tomorrow, our final ride into NYC, will be no picnic but significantly easier by comparison. I'm happy to say to all who helped me train that I've managed to meet my goal to reach the top of every hill without stopping!!! (though I still hold the slow climb record!). Off to a wedding now, just before dinner. That's right - a rider and volunteer - she wore a veil on her helmet all day! Stranger things happen every year...

August 22, 2007
My inbox was too stuffed to allow me to send this sooner but wanted to be sure you all knew that we arrived in Manhattan alive and in great shape on Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining, the breezes were cool and it was a crystal clear day in lower Manhattan - just beautiful! Caitlin & I spent the next 2 rainy days decompressing in Manhattan, arriving home last night. I'm already busy catching up on work but will manage to upload my pictures and get a link out for y'all to see tonight.

Thanks again for your support. I couldn't have done it without YOU!

The Monday after the ride, Allen Zwickler had lunch with Tracy and the editor of Poz magazine, a well-established publication focused on HIV and related topics. Tracy's story can be found in the November 2007 edition of Poz magazine, to read the article online please click here, or to read the article as it appeared in the magazine, please click here.

The foundation intends to continue supporting ESAR and looks forward to collaborating with them wherever possible.