Off Hours: Officer Leite preps for Boston-N.Y. AIDS ride


Not many people would enjoy biking up College Hill in the middle of July - or even during the cooler days of September. But for Police and Security officer Antonio Leite, it's just part of the job. As a shift supervisor, he can spend up to two hours a shift peddling from one end of campus to the other. "And that's just fine with me," he says. "It's extra training."

Like the estimated 3,500 other cyclists who will participate in this year's Boston-to-New York AIDS Ride, Leite, 33, has spent the summer training for the 275-mile journey to be held Sept. 16-18.

In addition to the riding he does around campus, Leite rides 10 to 50 miles a day when not on duty. "I'm logging about 150 miles per week," he says.

But the training isn't always grueling. On many rides, he connects a trailer to his bicycle and brings his precocious 3-year-old daughter, Natasha, along for some fresh air or a quick picnic, left.

A 10-year veteran of Police and Security, Leite also serves as one of the department's training officers, helping to ensure that other officers meet and maintain their agility and physical fitness. In addition to cycling, Leite maintains his own fitness with weight training, the occasional tennis game and watching Natasha.

Leite has been busy raising the $1,700 required to take part in the ride, and by mid-August had raised more than $400. The ride benefits the Fenway Community Health Center, the largest community-based provider of HIV/AIDS medical and mental health services in New England. The center also provides HIV testing, research and prevention programs.

Leite says he likes to think of himself as a doer. "I hope this ride will inspire others to become doers also, if not for HIV/AIDS, then for some other cause," he says.

The Boston-to-New York ride is one of five such events held around the country. Other sites include Texas, California, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Since they began in 1994, nearly 25,000 riders have raised $40 million to help others.

Members of the Brown community wishing to donate to Leite's ride can get pledge forms by calling him at ext. 3-1663 or by sending e-mail.

Ride organizers are still seeking volunteers to assist the day before the ride, Wednesday, Sept. 15, and the morning of the ride, Thursday, Sept. 16. For more information, contact Darci Palmquist at 617-859-8282, ext. 230. - Glenn Hare

Do you know someone at Brown who has an interesting avocation or public service project? Call the George Street Journal at 3-2476 or send e-mail.