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Interview: Gilles Marini talks Kiehl’s LifeRide 8 for amfAR and the importance of finding a cure for HIV/AIDS

Gilles Marini and LifeRiders leave Kiehl’s at The Shops at North Bridge in Chicago Photo Credit Valerie Hulet-McCarty

 

On July 31, a determined band of road warriors embarked on a multi-city motorcycle journey with one mission in mind: To raise awareness and funds in the ongoing fight to eradicate HIV and AIDS. Kiehl’s Since 1851 hosted its 8th Annual LifeRide for amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) this year. To date, LifeRiders have racked up over 11,000 miles in the name of battling a disease that affects more than 36 million people worldwide. The ride ended earlier today in Nashville. But, the race for a cure is far from over.

Kiehl’s USA President Chris Salgardo and amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost led this year’s group of riders which include: Actors Gilles Marini (“Switched at Birth”), Ian Bohen (“Teen Wolf”), Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”), Anthony Carrino co-host (“Kitchen Cousins”), Grant Reynolds host/producer (“What Could Possibly Go Wrong”) and Luke Wessman tattoo artist, (Miami/NY Ink).

These riders press on, mile after mile, sometimes in grave conditions to make some noise about a deadly disease which many people incorrectly assume has become a livable condition via medical advancements. Pop star Charli XCX makes a startling revelation in a PSA for the campaign: “Now, one in five new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. are young people, between the ages of 13 and 24,” which equates to approximately 700 new cases per month among young people under the age of 25.

Having supported LifeRide extensively the past several years, the unwavering collective passion of the riders is immediately obvious, strong, and infectious. They’ve weathered physical and figurative storms to draw public attention about the desperate need to stop a deadly killer in its tracks before more innocent lives are lost. Greeting the public and taking pictures with them feels like a small thing to these riders who are hoping for the ultimate reward – a cure and a vaccine for AIDS.

Gilles Marini has participated in seven out of eight LifeRides and I caught up with him at two of the Chicago stops earlier this week. His eyes immediately lit up as I asked him why he continues to ride and support this cause.

“I keep doing this in memory of all the people we lost in my neighborhood when I was a child,” Gilles explained. “It was a huge epidemic and sharing needles was common because heroin was the drug of choice. So, everybody contracted AIDS very early and very fast. People were starting to die and it was really devastating. That was worldwide and it happened where I grew up.

So, I’m riding for them. I’m riding for them and the 35 million people affected by AIDS. It’s not over. We are not sprinting toward a cure and a vaccine. Sadly enough, weirdly enough, only a few people are trying to do this and our group is one of them. Hopefully we can make this happen very soon. I’m tired of having this world live with this disease looming over their head. People say, ‘Now people can live with AIDS.’ That’s a big mistake. People don’t live with AIDS, they survive and that’s not right. I want a cure and I want a vaccine and I want it yesterday.”

Gilles isn’t the only one whose hometown has been rocked by AIDS-related illness and death. Per amfAR statistics, since the beginning of the pandemic, 76.1 million people have contracted HIV and 35 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses, including 1 million in 2016. Furthermore, in 2016, 1.8 million people became newly infected with HIV; 160,000 were under the age of 15 and about 4,932 people will become infected with HIV each day—which translates to about 205 every hour.

These alarming statistics represent people with families and loved ones who ultimately suffer a great loss when a battle with the disease is lost. Fathers, sons, brothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends are taken from their loved ones too soon. Something must be done to end these tragic deaths.

Lots of enthusiastic fans gathered to greet the riders over two days at three Kiehl’s Chicago locations. Employee spirits were high as the cyclists pulled into the stores amidst loud cheers and applause. It was truly a sight to behold …

It’s admittedly cool to grab a selfie with some great-looking, high-profile celebrities. But, the serious nature of the disease was not lost on the crowd who listened intently to Chris Salgardo’s speech about Kiehl’s incredible 166-year history, which has survived huge catastrophes across multiple decades like the Great Depression and killer bee epidemic. He talked about Kiehl’s ongoing commitment to customers and the communities they serve.

Kiehl’s USA President Chris Salgardo and amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost with Kiehl’s $150,000 amfAR donation check. L to R: Tyler Posey, Luke Wessman, Serayah McNeill, Kevin Robert Frost, Gilles Marini, Chris Salgardo, Anthony Carrino, Ian Bohen and Nicole Concilio
Photo Credit: Valerie Hulet-McCarty

 

LifeRide was born out of Kiehl’s philanthropic nature and its mission to join in the fight against AIDS since the ‘80s. The former apothecary-turned-skincare company wanted to make noise about the disease. What better way to do it, than to put a band of celebrities on bikes for a cross-country, public-greeting trek to help spread the word. The riders always encourage and hope for as big a public turnout as possible at each stop. More people = more potential donations and more voices to shine a light on the cause. The number of people who showed up this year was a big morale-booster.

“There’s a huge turnout. People are very sweet,” Gilles excitedly relayed. “Obviously, this year we brought Nicole and some of the “Teen Wolf” cast, Tyler Posey and Ian [Bohen]. So, that brings a lot more attention to this ride, because the younger crowd is now asking, ‘What is AIDS?’ and that’s insane. They need to know. Just in Chicago there’s 1,000 people infected per year under 30 years old. It’s not over. The scientists are very close and I’m very confident it will end very soon.”

Gilles is determined to ride for as long as it takes until a cure for HIV/AIDS is found. He, like the rest of the LifeRiders, doesn’t care about bad weather and poor riding conditions. He feels the weight of all the lives at stake and it propels him onward. The camaraderie among the riders also sustains him.

Gilles Marini and Tyler Posey with Isaac and Lori Melton #thecureisinourhands Photo Credit: Valerie Hulet-McCarty

“It’s more than camaraderie, it’s a brotherhood,” Gilles said. “We depend on each other because our lives our on the line. People might think it’s just a motorcycle ride. But, it’s dangerous. There’s people riding around in small neighborhoods in Middle America and that’s different than in larger cities.

We’re going 70 miles an hour on the highway, a lot of 18 wheelers, it’s dangerous. We make it that way because we are raising money for a dangerous disease that is not comfortable to live with. So, we don’t want a comfortable ride. We have that bond, that friendship and that brotherhood and that lasts for a long time. At the end of the day, after the ride is over, we still see each other and it’s been like that for me for seven years. So, I will do this ride till HIV/AIDS is gone. Then we’ll ride for something else.”

To date, Kiehl’s has raised over $1.7 million for amfAR via motorcycle rides and donation events since 2010. Visit Kiehl’s website and amfAR’s website for more information on how to support LifeRide’s mission to make AIDS history.

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‘This Is Us’ reminds us what to be grateful for on Thanksgiving

this-is-us-thanksgiving

Photo Credit: NBC This is Us Facebook

It’s impossible not to reflect on what we’ve lost, what we have, and what we hope for after watching the emotionally-charged Thanksgiving-themed episode of “This is Us” that aired on Nov. 22 on NBC. It’s also impossible to quantify the amount of heart this incredible cast and crew continue to deliver on what can arguably be branded the best, most important show currently on television. Calling it “tremendous” and “spectacular” and “heartwarming” doesn’t seem broad enough in scope.

“This Is Us” cuts straight to the heart, every single time and leaves us wanting more, more, more. It’s been a long time since a family drama made us feel so many things on so many levels. On the eve of the one holiday that’s geared toward gathering with loved ones and giving thanks, this week’s episode is an extra-special gift.

Thanksgiving, for most of us, is steeped in family traditions; whether it’s making Grandma’s secret recipe pumpkin pie or playing board games after dinner. It’s about the place we gather and who we share a table with. For many of us, it’s one time we specifically pause to look at the people we are with and say what we’re thankful for. Some of us rattle off a chain of common phrases like good health, happiness, family, food, and financial stability. Those are all wonderful, worthy things to be thankful for. But, this episode urges us to dig deeper than that.

In William’s poignant conversation with Olivia, when she asks him what it’s like to be dying, he tells her he tries to capture all the moments – the pieces of life flying by all around him – his granddaughter’s breath sleeping against him, the sound of Randall’s laughter, rolling up from within. Sadly, he knows he’s running out of time. He wisely points out to Olivia none of us have all the time we think we’re going to have. He’s right.

The question for all of us becomes: What are we going to do about that? How are we going to spend our minutes, our days, our hours? Life is fleeting. We are babies then suddenly we are 12, 35, 47, 65, 82, and 90, if we’re lucky. In the social media age, can we pause long enough to be in the moment we’re in instead of agonizing about capturing a shot, posting it, and obsessing about how many likes and comments we’ll collect? Can we stop and really appreciate what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with? Can we pick a day to unplug and leave our cell phones in a basket by the door?

Life rolls by us in the small moments and grand adventures and everything in between. How do we experience it? How do we cherish our time and make our loved ones feel cherished? In the end, how we act towards others is how we’ll be remembered by the people we’ve interacted with along the way.

Love is more than a feeling. Love is a verb. It’s an action. It’s writing a note of encouragement for your child’s lunchbox. It’s holding your friend while she sobs about the worst loss of her life. It’s calling your grandma to check in. It’s making your spouse dinner at the end of the day. It’s in a random act of kindness toward a stranger. The capacity to love lies within all of us – but, love doesn’t “materialize” until we share it through our words and actions.

When William urges Olivia to be thankful for being given pie by a man who adores her, again, he’s so right! Which also begs us to consider if we are putting up unnecessary walls around others. Are we judging others too harshly? Are we too busy harboring bitterness and past regrets to set aside our differences and appreciate all that we have and everyone who is standing right in front of us in the here and now?

As a writer, I marvel at the unique storytelling format of this series – how the past and the present are brilliantly intertwined and how the past informs so many of the moments these characters are presently in. Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia have incredible chemistry and they excel at making Rebecca and Jack so undeniably human.

How many of us have been in their shoes, making the “obligatory” journey to a family dinner that is chock full of dysfunctional relationships and cutting, passive-aggressive remarks that are passed around the table with the turkey and stuffing? Poor Kate hates her itchy sweater and we don’t blame her! Why do we often box ourselves into completely uncomfortable situations with people who choose to bring us and others down? The kids are brutally honest that they hate Thanksgiving and thankfully, their declaration is a huge wake up call for Rebecca.

The unexpected tire blowout saves their whole day! They walk 3.4 miles to find gas station hot dogs and the Pilgrim Rick-helmed lodge. Jack, once again, makes lemonade out of lemons and they have a wonderful, magical night. It makes a huge impression on Randall, because he copies that night to a “T” for his family every year. How sweet is that? Sniff, sniff!

Thanksgiving has always been difficult for my mom, because she lost her dad on Thanksgiving Day just after she turned 13. Nearly six decades later, she’s never gotten over the loss. Much like the “This Is Us’” Big 3, she adored her dad. I never met my grandpa but I think of him often and wish he could’ve met my son. I take comfort that he’s with with my grandma, who we lost back in 1992, and my uncle, who we lost five years ago.

We lost my Grandma Ruth, on my dad’s side, almost three years ago. We all miss her. She was the “guest of honor” at our family gathering every year and now her place at the table is empty. In fact, the number of people at our family table is a lot smaller than it used to be. Still, I thank God for every minute of every hour of every day I get to share with each of them.

This Thanksgiving Day, I thank God for every member of my family and for my wonderful friends. I thank God for my son and the many phases of life he’ll experience in the future. My biggest hope is that I get to share as many of them with him as possible. And that we share more smiles than tears and more rainbows than storms. Most of all, I hope he meets someone someday who loves him fiercely, enough to give him “pie” when he needs it most, who will also help him make new traditions of his own.

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‘American Horror Story’: Is this simple fact a clue to identifying the real season 6 trailer?

In less than two weeks the “American Horror Story” season 6 subtitle will be revealed and we can briefly rest our tired minds from the constant speculation and the pressing, nagging questions pummeling our brains. Namely: What is the setting? What is the season 6 theme and which of the 20-plus teaser videos that AHS powers-that-be posted on Facebook is the real thing? Is it possible something very simple is screaming, “It’s me! Pick me! The others are fake! Don’t you see what makes me the real deal?”

By now, we all know Ryan Murphy and FX are having great fun keeping us guessing about the “?6” “American Horror Story” installment. FX boss John Landgraf probably loved telling the Television Critics Association that he and his pal Murphy are going to tease, troll, and misdirect us with a ton of bogus trailers. You’re probably not alone if you’ve played every terrifying clip dozens, if not hundreds of times, trying in desperation to find some detail, some small scrap of evidence, that exposes the accurate clip. What else could a diehard fan possibly do?

Here’s the thing: Maybe the clue lies in something so familiar about “American Horror Story” that it’s been entirely overlooked. Does anyone else remember one of Sesame Street’s signature segments “One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong?” Maybe this philosophy applies to the authentic “American Horror Story” season 6 trailer.

Full disclosure: This theory is just that – a theory; like dozens of other cyber-related speculation pieces on the highly-debated subject. But, it’s simply too compelling to not jump wildly into the fray and boldly suggest that the real “American Horror Story” season 6 teaser clip is (Drum roll, please!): Descent.

Yes. You heard it correctly. Forget the cornfields and kids sitting at desks. Forget the millipede crawling across the woman’s face, the murderous mobile and the demon doll. All clever misdirects.

What is it about a running foot being grabbed by randomly protruding hands underneath a spooky staircase that causes us to suspect we’ve got the real deal? Are you ready? The signature AHS main titles theme music at the end. That repetitive whispery noise that almost sounds like “Great scare, great scare” if listened to in a certain way.

None of the other clips incorporate this music. Is there a reason for this? Is this what makes Descent the logical choice? The music was originally composed by Cesar Davila- Irizarry and was featured in all five of “American Horror Story’s” prior seasons.

Furthermore, “Descent” could carry multiple meanings in the “blended” “American Horror Story” universe. It has been suggested that Tate Langdon’s Murder House son Michael will reappear this season. Will the show follow his homicidal lineage? Will we see the devil’s spawn child pick up where we left him in season one, after wallowing giddily in a bloodbath after killing his nanny?

Many of the “Coven” characters were Salem witch trial descendants. Madison Montgomery may have descended from the Charles and Nora Montgomery family. Vivien Harmon had family in Florida where “Freak Show” was set. “Asylum” depicted Sister Jude’s descent into madness. The Countess created a whole new breed of bloodthirsty children in “Hotel” and her baby was delivered by mad Dr. Montgomery.

Other reports suggest that a TV Guide print listing for “American Horror Story: The Mist” means season 6 will be subtitled The Mist and therefore, the weird creature crawling along the railroad tracks shrouded in fog could be the real trailer. Just remember, the TV Guide listing itself could be an elaborate hoax.
Is the proof in the music? What do you think?
“American Horror Story” returns to FX on Wednesday,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNn9L_YEP6s

Sept. 14 at 10 p.m. ET on FX.