I do not think that I would have pursued this opportunity without the SUU EDGE project aspect. Though I try my best to get out and broaden my experiences, it was nice to have an extra push through my university. Volunteering for AIDS/LifeCycle was one of the greatest experiences due to  multiple aspects. Not only was this a giant event that involved thousands of participants, but it was all for a cause that is bigger than itself. Being around all of these motivated people really inspired me, to be more giving and thankful of what I have.

AIDS/LifeCycle is organized by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, this brought out a very wide variety of participants. Constantly being around people that I don't have much experience of being around really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Though I was thrown into a new type of experience, I really enjoyed the culture that this event had to offer. Not only were the participants fun to interact with, but the sports medicine team was a whole adventure in itself. As apart of the sports medicine staff I had the responsibility of treating for any cyclist that comes in with any type of musculoskeletal issues. Along with the traditional duties of an athletic trainer, we all had to keep up with the traveling aspect of the event. Every morning, after taking care of the cyclists before they started their ride, we had to pack up the training room into a moving truck and set it back up at the next location. This process was very physically taxing, but actually was one of the most fun parts of the trip. Combined with  the massage team, we fire lined all of our equipment and personal belongings from the giant tent were we were stationed to the equipment truck. This ability to be coordinated and have excellent communication was not something I thought I would get out of this experience, but was glad I did. Throughout the week, we got to know each other very well and I am very happy to have received these new connections though a great cause. It was cool to see a training room set up inside a giant tent, it was quite different to what I am used to and really pushed me to have a new approach as a clinician.  

Overall this event was one of the craziest things I have ever seen while being so organized and able to run so smoothly. I am glad to had been able to contribute to this event, seeing the faces of the cyclists that I had helped get across the finish line was worth the effort. Without the sports medicine team a lot of these cyclists would not have finished the event that meaner so much to them. 

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To learn more about AIDS/LifeCycle, go to: https://www.aidslifecycle.org