What a difference a bike makes for Mark Shore.
After moving to Hoboken from Chicago, Ill. three years ago, Shore has been busy working for Morgan Stanley on Wall Street, playing the drums with his band and riding his bike around town.
This summer Shore will be riding in the Northeast AIDSRide, 325 miles from Bear Mountain, N.Y. to Boston, July 19-22.
“It’s a great thing to ride for such a long time,” Shore said recently. “Riding requires a combination of speed and endurance.”
In order to raise money for the ride, Shore formed Cyclists and Bands Against AIDS (CABA), a benefit concert to be held at the Acme Underground, 9 Great Jones St., New York City on Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will include Shore’s band Exit 86 along with The Googlies, Lisa Gentile and the Josh Max’s Outfit.
“I wanted to do something more innovative than just asking people for donations for this important cause,” Shore said. “I’ve recruited a group of talented musicians whose styles range from Hindi rock to Lounge a’billy, and we’ll play for everyone who makes a $10 donation at the door.”
During the concert, the musicians will be raffling compact discs and products from AIDSRide’s official sponsor, Taqueray.
“This event benefits everyone,” said Bob Maresca of the Googlies in a press release. “It’s a great way to raise money for the AIDSRide. We get to perform our music, and the audience gets a night of entertainment and a chance to win CDs and other prizes.”
Shore describes his band’s music as akin to the sounds of acts like REM. The benefit will be the band’s last gig together after two years performing at local venues.
“The band was only a side project,” Shore said. “For our last show we’ll use music as a fundraiser.”
Shore is training for AIDSRide by riding at area parks on his carbon frame 21-speed Trek. He got involved in the event two months ago after learning about it through the Internet. He became interested in the fight against AIDS and felt he needed to help in raising money for research.
“This is my very first time doing the run,” Shore said. “I’m starting to realize it’s going to be a challenge.”
AIDSRide began in California in 1994 and since then it has spread nationally with events throughout the year. Over 44,000 riders have participated raising over $70 million to HIV/AIDS service organizations nationwide. For information on how to donate to the AIDSRide, log on to www.aidsride.org.