His title this summer with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's ( AFC's ) Team To End AIDS ( T2 ) endurance training program is site assistant, meaning, Teddy Greene does anything and everything needed.
"I am a certified water boy out on the course," he said, laughing. "Seriously, I am there to assist the coaches in whatever they may need. Running errands, running to help set up, and just being there to support those who need it with anything."
Greene, 29, a Lakeview resident and hair stylist at Salon V, has run the Chicago Marathon in the past and is now training for the annual Ride For AIDS in July, his second time doing the two-day, 200-mile bicycle ride.
"T2 is organized, efficient, and the friendliest staff that makes people jump over hurdles everyday," Greene said. "T2 means the world to me. When I decided to start running three years ago, I needed something to push me and keep me motivated. The staff did that for me. Any questions I asked were answered quickly, any slight injury was put at top priority, and any doubts I had [ about ] not finishing that first marathon was out the door before I started at the actual marathon in 2009."
Greene has completed three marathons in support of T2, with his best time ( 4:52 ) being in London this past spring.
"I will continue running and supporting T2 until my body says, 'No more of this crazy stuff,'" Greene said. "I remember saying last year, 'I will run a marathon any day instead of doing the Ride For AIDS again.' Funny thing, I'll be riding again this July."
Also, Greene is a co-captain for the bike team known as Richard's Riders.
"The ride is just another mental challenge to push through," Greene said. "There is no reason why anyone cannot complete the Ride For AIDS. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it, especially when you have your friends and the wonderful support TPAN gives during training and the day of the ride."
Greene, who is single, has been working at Salon V for four years. He has been living in Chicago for more than seven years and is originally from Tallahassee, Fla.: "I definitely owe it to this city. Chicago has made me into the person I am today. This city gives me passion and allows me to dream big and accomplish goals that I set for myself."
Greene has been HIV-positive for almost four years.
"I can't forget the day I learned I was HIV-positive. I was in shock," Greene said. "I was in a committed relationship for about three years at that point, and thought the trust we had for each other was strong enough to not cheat on each other. I was wrong. Not only did I find out I was cheated on, I found out I was living with the disease that I promised my mom and dad I never would contract. I still remember saying, 'That won't happen to me; I won't get HIV.'"
However, Greene is now healthy and happy, two years after starting his medication. In fact, a doctor at Howard Brown Health Center recently told him, "You're healthier than the average person."
"The emotions of living with this virus have definitely been hard," Greene admitted. "I'm not worried about death any sooner than before. I'm not worried about being able do anything I desire to do. I am, though, worried about the stigma this virus still has. I hate thinking that people look at me like I have, 'the gay disease.' I hate when people cry when I tell them [ that I am HIV-positive ] because I am OK living with this."
Greene is a spokesman for AFC, thanks to a five-minute video made and produced about Greene. All T2 marathon runners saw the Greene video at marathon training opening day in late April.
"Since finding out [ that I am HIV-positive ] , I feel like I have been given a second chance at life, been given a chance to prove to myself that I can do anything, given a chance to change the world," Greene said. "With the people and friends who I have met over this journey of fundraising [ for HIV/AIDS ] and endurance sport activities, I couldn't have done it without any of them. By doing these things, it's given me power, confidence and strength to believe I have anything I want to do, and anything I set my mind to. HIV has changed my life for the better. Does that mean I like living with this disease? No, of course I would rather not be HIV-positive, but I stand behind myself and scream out loud that the disease won't beat me down.
"I am proud. My friends support me; my family supports me, my co-workers support me; my clients support me; my community supports me. I am fortunate to have such a wonderful group of people in my life.
"I'm faced with the disease every day when I take my meds, but it doesn't faze me one bit because I am a better, stronger person because of it."
Greene admitted he was in "awe and shock," not to mention "nervous" when T2 representative Dan Lakin asked him in 2010 to be a part of the video.
"The Ride For AIDS and the T2 gives me passion to finish strong, gives me support that I can accomplish the feat, gives the community around me, meaning, those living with the disease, have the chance to get their meds, housing and support they need through the fundraising efforts I defeat everyday," Greene said.
To support Greene's fundraising for the annual Ride For AIDS, go to: bit.ly/Teddys2ndRideforAIDS
