BY TERRY SCHMIDA
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Worse than average problems require better than average solutions.

A notion not lost on participants in the annual SMART Ride, which this past November raised a record-setting $1.4 million for seven Florida agencies dealing with the reality of AIDS in people’s lives – and deaths.

The share of this money alloted to AIDS Help of Monroe County is just shy of $200,000, leaving AHM’s Executive Director/CEO Scott Pridgen very pleased indeed.

“They just keep raising the bar,” Pridgen said. “It’s really an incredible feat, and awesome for the community. Our local team has become like family to us. They’re just amazing.”

Now in its 16th year, this challenging but rewarding bicyle ride from Miami to Key West draws hundreds of participants, many of whom have personal stories of love and loss to tell. Folks motivated by the desire to make a difference by raising money and awareness. Key West Mile Marker team co-Captain Donald G. Dotzauer has a personal tale of his own.

“I lost my best friend to AIDS in 1996,” said Key Wester Dotzauer. “A beloved high school physics teacher stripped of his dignity in death. I made a pledge to myself that his life was worthy of honoring.”

At the much-anticipated SMART Ride check presentation in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 12, AIDS Help received a check for $195,277.14.

The KWMM team, co-Captained by reigning Fantasy Fest Queen, Karen Frank-Noll, once again had the No. 1 money-raising team in the state

The SMART Ride disbursement to AHM represents critical stopgap money for general client healthcare needs not covered by in-house grants, such as pharmaceutical and specific dental needs; emergency housing, and utility assistance.

As important to Pridgen as the proceeds from the ride, which took place on Nov. 15 and 16, 2019, is “the local esprit de corps preceding it,” he said.

Team Capt. Dotzauer was in agreement.

“Pursuing revenue-producing fundraisers like ‘Real Men Do Drag’ and ‘Miss Firecracker,’ tea dances and Sunday night parties, racing vibrators, and auctions are their own endurance tests,” he said with a laugh.

The SMART Ride began in November 1993 with a total of 200 riders and crew, and has been an annual source of revenues for Aids Help and the other Florida agencies. Other recipients of the TSR fund this year include Pridelines, Broward House, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Metro Wellness and Community Centers, Miracle of Love, Inc. and Compass Community Center.

Anyone wishing to learn more about TSR should visit www.TheSMARTRide.org. To explore local participation options,look for Key West Mile Markers for SMART Ride 17 and message either Dotzauer or Frank-Noll.A series of local informational meetings and ridership initiatives will be announced shortly for the Keys, including the team’s annual appearance at Taste of Key West 2020 on Monday, April 20.

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