Team Knit 2025

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If you have been around here for any amount of time at all, never mind the full two decades that I have been at this blogging thing to some degree, then by now you should know that I don’t work on my birthday. I used to explain it at job interviews and other than the years that my kids were little and there’s no choice (and one year at the June Retreat in Port Ludlow- but that’s hardly the same kind of work) I don’t do it. That means that technically today should be spent in traditional fashion, which is doing as I darn well please, but I am breaking away from my regularly scheduled festivities to tell you about this year’s Team Knit for the Bike Rally, because there is nothing I would like more for my birthday than a donation to this terrific cause.

Now, I know there’s a small chance that a few of you don’t know me very well (hi instagram) and so let me take a minute to explain what the Bike Rally is, and what’s going on anyway – we’re going back to basics. The Bike Rally is a 660km (bike ride, not motorcycle) from Toronto to Montreal, in support of three great ASOs. (AIDS Service Organizations, that’s people that help people with HIV/AIDS. The one here in Toronto is called PWA, and that’s short for People With AIDS.) Every year a couple hundred people get on their bikes and ride that great long way (they’re the riders, like me) and other people move their stuff and mark the route and cook the food and keep them safe (that’s the crew, like Cam this year) and other people donate money to cheer them on, and to show gratitude that they themselves don’t have to ride bikes that far to make a change in the world. (That’s you.)

We’ve been doing this for years and years and years. Ken started it, and the rest of us have been doing it fewer years, but still a really long time. (Every person in my family has done the ride, except Joe, who I think we can all agree is sort of crew.) ALL of Team Knit (with the exception of Fenner this year but she’s practically a baby) hold this cause in such high esteem that we have held some sort of leadership role or in the case of me and Cam and I may have really maxed this out) MANY leadership roles to keep it rolling. That means that not only are we committed to riding when we can – which is a ridiculous amount of time when you think of the training and fundraising and then the week to actually ride… but decided that this needed more of our time when we’re not riding. That’s an endorsement, right?

These ASOs provide practical, meaningful help to people who have HIV or AIDS and were a response to the under-response of the AIDS crisis that began in the 80s, and over the years what they do and who they do it for has shifted. What was originally a tragedy centred on the gay community and the death sentence that was AIDS has become something really different these days, and in fact globally (and here) women make up the majority of people with HIV/AIDS, and the rate of new diagnosis is higher in women, immigrant women, and first nations women, and women of colour. Across the board HIV infection is associated with underprivilege, discrimination, fear, poverty, lack of power, lack of sexual power or decision making ability, and access to prevention/treatment meds.

Nowadays science (with certainty) that U=U, and that means that if treatment for HIV/AIDS has the amount of virus in your blood Undetectable then it is Untransmissible and you can’t give it to anybody. Not everyone knows this though, and grownups and children can face tremendous stigma and shame, not to mention that the medicine that gets you there is expensive and in many parts of the world, difficult to access, or stigmatizing to access. (If you’re not sure about that, just imagine living in Canada or the US, and having to have your whole neighbourhood and community (including the other parents at your local school or the local dating pool) see you turn up at the HIV/AIDS clinic to access meds for you or your child, and know that’s how it is a lot of places if you seek help.)

Anyway, Team Knit thinks that’s trash. Furthermore, I don’t know about you but the world is such a complicated and heartbreaking place lately, that I am relieved to come up against a problem that we’re already equipped to relieve if only we had the money.

This year Team Knit is a group of knitters that are once again going to get on their bikes and try to make things better, and we are:

Me

Ken

Jen

Fenner (that’s Jen’s kid)

Cameron (Cam’s crewing instead of riding this year, he’s still committed to the cause, still giving up a week of his life to be with us, and though he’s not able to ride this year, you can still donate to him.)

We’re regular knitters, not pro-cyclists or anything, and each of us has so far been on ONE training ride (and they were short) so may the force be with us. (This is the first year that the Rally hasn’t just struck fear in the hearts of one or two of us, but ALL of us. Except Fenner, who has the strength and enthusiasm of youth, which is a whole other kind of amazing thing. You know many teens who would do this?) We ride August 3rd and we would love your support. For years I’ve been writing about the magic of cumulative action, the concept that while one small donation might not mean much, many small donations can make a whole sweater, I mean… an entire cultural shift, but you see how knitters are particularly good at understanding this. Absolutely anything helps, and for years and years we’ve stunned people with what Team Knit (that’s us together with you) can accomplish, especially when we remember that there are many, many ways to help.

It seems like such a good time to come back to basics doesn’t it? People helping people, making change where we can, relieving suffering where we are able. (Sounds like a birthday party to me.)

Let’s go.

(PS I am 57, for those of you who like to donate my age out of sheer moxy.)

72 thoughts on “Team Knit 2025”

  2. This is the stage where I’m your big cheerleader: GO STEPHANIE! YOU CAN DO IT!

    (Later comes the stage where I call you a slacker. But not yet.)

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  4. Go team! Happy Birthday Stephanie! I just donated to Fenner, so cool that she’s doing it for another year. Ride like the wind!

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  6. Can’t wait to donate! Just FYI, Ken’s link that you have posted is going to Fenner’s page. Best of luck with the ride!

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  7. Happy Birthday Steph!
    I will be donating soon, and am so inspired (and thankful) that you ride so we don’t have to (or can’t, because I’m in the US, and I have a broken internal gyroscope so bicycles and I do not mix)

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  9. Yes, as mentioned above, Ken’s link goes to Fenner’s page. I’ve donated to Fenner. Now I need a link to Ken’s page.

    Wishing you perfect weather from now through the end of the ride!!!

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  13. You are inspirational people. Reading (retrospectively) about the bike rides of previous years, I have been so moved by the effort that you have put into this excellent cause!
    I promised myself, then, that I would donate to Team Knit the next time they rode. I’m a bit short of readies this month, but I’ll definitely be donating when I can. Meanwhile, I’m cheering you on in your preparations for the big (HUGE) ride.
    Go Team Knit!!!

    Reply ↓

  15. I’m a bit short of readies this month, but I’ll definitely be donating when I can. Meanwhile, I’m cheering you on in your preparations for the big (HUGE) ride escape road free.

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  19. I once had the opportunity to participate in a program supporting people living with HIV in Asia, where access to ARVs is difficult, and stigma sometimes comes from within the That’s Not My Neighbor family. Stories like Team Knit’s make me realize that, wherever you are, compassion, perseverance, and purposeful action have profound practical value. It is even more admirable to see people who are not medical professionals, not professional activists, but knitters, parents, friends… willing to get on their bikes and use their strength to create change.

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  21. Right, birthdays and knitting, who knew they’d collide? This year’s Bike Rally team sounds like a cause worth breaking tradition for. Speaking of tradition, I once volunteered at a charity run plagued with organizational hiccups; getting everyone aligned felt like navigating a chaotic game of Slither io. You know, trying to grow while avoiding getting eaten. I hope Team Knit has smoother sailing!

    Reply ↓

  24. Jumping straight into the heart of community and self-care, this article radiates the spirit of meaningful action blended with personal boundaries. Slice Master energy comes to mind when juggling personal traditions and the urge to support something bigger than oneself. I once faced a similar dilemma, skipping a family celebration to volunteer for a charity run, and felt the same mix of pride and conflict.

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  37. I found it really interesting that you’re breaking your two-decade-long no-work birthday tradition to promote Team Knit for the Bike Rally. Asking for donations to this terrific cause as your birthday wish is incredibly generous. Hope it’s a huge success!

    Reply ↓

  43. Happy 57th Birthday, Stephanie!

    What an absolutely incredible way to honor your birthday. A 660km ride is a massive undertaking, and it’s for such a profoundly important cause. Huge respect to you and all of Team Knit.

    Training for something that huge must be such a grind! I know when I’m supposed to be doing something difficult (like a big project or even just my taxes), I get so easily distracted. I’ve wasted more time than I’d like to admit this week on silly little browser games—found this one called Ragdoll Archers and it’s absurdly addictive.

    It just makes what you’re doing all the more impressive. Channeling all that energy into making a real difference is truly inspiring. I’ve just sent in a donation for PWA. Good luck, and ride safe!

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  44. It’s so inspiring to see Team Knit gearing up for the ride again. What you’re doing for PWA and the other ASOs is just fantastic.

    I was really touched by your mention of Fenner joining the team. You are so right—it’s truly special to see a teenager commit to a cause like that. Getting teens involved in anything beyond their screens is a challenge, let alone a 660km charity ride!

    My son and I are always looking for simple ways to connect, and we recently got hooked on this ridiculous free browser game called Ragdoll Archers. It’s just some silly physics-based fun, but it’s been a great way for us to laugh together.

    Anyway, seeing your team’s dedication is a great reminder of what’s important. Just sent a donation to support the ride. Go, Team Knit!

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  54. It’s inspiring to see such dedication from Team Knit. Their commitment to not just riding but also leadership reflects a strong sense of community. Speaking of community, I recently discovered Geometry Dash, and it’s an amazing platform for connecting with others while enjoying challenging gameplay. It offers a fun way to engage your creativity and improve skills—definitely worth checking out!

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  58. I love the Team Knit 2025 energy — knitting with others, even virtually, adds so much motivation and joy to what can otherwise be a solitary hobby. Seeing everyone’s progress, color choices, and project stories makes the whole year feel like one big, creative gathering. And when I need a fun break between stitches, I sometimes check out games and chats on https://royalreels20.com.au/ — a surprisingly relaxing way to unwind before picking up my needles again. Keep those projects coming!

    Reply ↓

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  61. What an incredible birthday post, Stephanie! It’s truly inspiring to see Team Knit’s dedication to the Bike Rally and the ASOs. Your passion for fighting stigma and supporting those with HIV/AIDS shines through, and I love the analogy of cumulative action – a perfect fit for knitters! It’s clear you’re all finding your own unique Pokepath to make a real difference, pushing through those training rides to achieve something monumental. Wishing you and the whole team an amazing, impactful journey this August! Find more insights at https://pokepath-td.com/

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  62. Happy birthday! I love your tradition of not working on your birthday. It’s so generous of you to break it to share about Team Knit 2025. The Bike Rally sounds like a wonderful cause, and I hope you get lots of donations as a gift.

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  66. The Bike Rally is a whopping 660 km from Toronto to Montreal, and I’m amazed at how knitters like Team Knit 2025 commit each year. Reading about their shift from just riders to assuming leadership roles, all while remaining regular knitters, makes me feel hopeful. Imagine browsing the net while sipping coffee; you see SBTI tests and think of what these folks achieve with sheer willpower!

    Reply ↓

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