U.S. Air Force Captain Anthony Interrante, 34, refused to let a Middle East deployment stop him from riding in this year’s AIDS/LifeCycle or from finishing the 545-mile ride, which began on Sunday, May 31, as one of the top fundraisers.
How does a critical care flight nurse serving in Afghanistan raise more than $59,000 to fight HIV? “Easy,” says the built and chiseled native of Philadelphia, “I mostly used Grindr and Scruff.”
“People told me I should send out emails to friends telling them about my training and asking for their support,” says Interrante. “But training wasn’t exactly something that comes easy in Bagram. If I had to talk about training, I’d end up having to pay my own way.”
So the openly gay Air Force officer turned to social media – but not just Facebook.
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“I would engage with everyone around the world who would send me a ‘woof’ or whatever, eventually telling them that I was going to be riding 545 miles to help end HIV and that I’d appreciate their support. I was amazed by how generous people were.”
About $56,000 of the money he raised for the seven-day ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles was from hundreds of strangers — representing every continent, including Antarctica — who were enticed to connect with him online via his sexy swimsuit picture.
“I know I’ve got a lot of thank you notes to write and I’m truly humbled by all the support,” says the Vacaville, California resident, “and not just for me, but for the amazing work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Los Angeles LGBT Center that benefit from this event.”
The fundraising certainly proved to be easier than the training, since riding a road bike in Bagram wasn’t an option, and not just because of the 100-degree heat. “I did more CrossFit than anyone should and I learned to own a spin bike for two to three hours at a time,” says Interrante, who didn’t ride an actual bike until the 82-mile first day of AIDS/LifeCycle.
How’s he doing after day three? “I’m feeling great,” says the member of AIDS/LifeCycle’s Team Mary, “and I’m feeling even better that we’ve raised more than $16 million to fight HIV. I’ve never lost anyone to HIV and I’m riding because I don’t want anyone to have to deal with that kind of loss.”
Jim Key is Chief Marketing Officer of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Follow him on Twitter at @JamesDKey.
Atrius
If he’s a captain why does he have buck sergeant stripes?
Sluggo2007
@Atrius: I’ll never understand why bitchy queens (like you) are so bitter. Go see a psychiatrist and find out why you hate yourself so much.
Raphael
daddy
Ash Mukherjee
I wonder if he would have raised as much if he was not such a dish.ð??? Jokes aside, that’s just awesome, inspiring stuff.
Josh447
This is an awesome accomplishment. This guy has ingenuity and a very positive attitude. Kudos to him for using his brain brawn and moxie to help out. He’s a true humanitarian.
Desert Boy
I’ve heard of Grindr but never heard of Scruff. U.S. Air Force Captain Anthony Interrante is one fine looking man and I like his commitment to helping the community.
onthemark
@Atrius: Your question seems logical to me and not at all bitchy, despite what Sluggo2007 says. 🙂
My guess is that he’s in a team of USAF guys who are mostly enlisted and they happened to come up with that team uniform?
Charlie in Charge
Well done, there are many many uses for Grindr and Scruff beyond the hookups (which are just fine as well). They have lots of social media-esque possibilities
Clark35
Well done.
benandy
No fair! Mentioning a “sexy swimsuit picture” and not including a link to same. Sigh. Guess I’ll just have to join Scruff.
Tracy Pope
“I’ve never lost anyone to HIV and I’m riding because I don’t want anyone to have to deal with that kind of loss”. Kudos to Capt Interrante. His commitment, forward thinking idea to get pledges/sponsors plus his creative ways to train in a less than ideal situation is really inspiring.
@Atrius: If I recall correctly there’s no longer Buck Sergeant in the Air Force. That chevron is Senior Airmen. @onthemark: might be right. Besides, a couple silver bars wouldn’t be very distinguishable or able to denote which military branch Capt Interrante is serving in. What they chose is so common even people who don’t know anything about military ranks would understand that as being USAF.
Atrius
@Sluggo2007: Mine was a valid question, and after having served in the U.S. Air Force myself, it’s particularly irritating to see such an error, providing the photos actually is the man in question.
Atrius
@Tracy Pope: Yes, you’re right. That’s senior airman now. It’s different today than when I got out 23 years ago. Thanks for the correction, but it’s still not even remotely a Captain so…
Atrius
@onthemark: perhaps.
alohatad
Well done, Captain. Amazing job, really.
As for those questioning his rank based on the shirt in the photos, consider the number of assumptions you are making in doing so. Is that HIS shirt? If so, is the shirt supposed to be a reflection of his current rank or is he wearing it for some other reason, as in a sentimental nod to someone? Team spirit? When was the photo taken? Has his rank never changed?
I am not going to call the question bitchy, for I don’t know the intent. Maybe it was just for a point of clarification as it could have been an error in reporting. Hopefully he won’t take offense that more was implied as he has done a very good thing.
gjg64
@Atrius: I seriously doubt that is an official Air Force shirt, the “Team Mary” motto should be a give away.
Darren
great work
charlie_jackpot
If I’d done it would have raised about £5 (that I would have had to put in myself) #nobodywantsmeongrindr
mcflyer54
My guess it that the shirt isn’t even real military gear. There is nothing, other than the stripes, that even give a military indication and it most likely is something put together for the race. Captain Interrante wasn’t sponsored by, or representing, the U S Air Force. Any recent Air Force personnel out there that confirm whether the jersey is military issue or not?
BlueDude
BRAVO, Captain! Many thanks for using your love, time, ingenuity, and gifted VERY good looks to help such a good cause!!! Thanks for serving your country, as well, Sir!
tdh1980
@charlie_jackpot: Exactly. This type of endeavor most likely benefits those whose looks make them stand out more than most others. An “ugly” person can’t do this and expect similar results.
That said, good for him. At least it was for a noble cause.
tdh1980
@charlie_jackpot: Not that I’m calling you unattractive, justing expounding on your point.
Franklin
Ok. Listen up, listen up you jaded, bitter queens. I knew with CPT Interrante when he was stationed at Landstuhl, Germany, and I can tell with 100% accuracy that yes he is in the military. At that time he was LT Interrante, and was in the Army. However, he crossed over into the blue after his contract was up, and later became CPT Interrante. Also, in regards to the uniform. Deployed Airforce sometimes wear Army camo while deployed, and on those uniforms the rank is Velcroed on the chest If you look slightly under the respirator tubing in the photo you can see the bottom of Captian’s bars showing on his uniform. I have included a link below to show and example of the type of uniform. Also, on a personal level, CPT Interrante is a really nice guy and very down to earth. I’m glad to see that he continues to do great things for not only his country, but also the gay community which is something that probably that can’t be said about a few of you in this comments section.
Franklin
http://archive.airforcetimes.com/article/20140603/NEWS07/306030068/Deployed-airmen-wear-new-Army-camo-pattern
gjg64
@Franklin: BRAVO! Thanks for confirming what most of us believed.
And bravo again to Capt. Interrante…..and how do those of us without Grinder donate?
notevenwrong
Where is the famous sexy swimsuit picture then?
Redpalacebulleaglesox
@Atrius: Atrius, the USAF has been using a stylized version of sergeant stripes for marketing purposes. That may be the reason why the team riding shirt displays them.
Daniel-Reader
Considering the USA spends more on the military each year than the next top 12 military spenders combined, a bit of that would help cure a disease that has taken out more people than all wars since WWII combined.
terremer
Jealousy is so evil! Great bod from real work, so there is a life outside the gym!!! Guys, get a life!
Way to go Captain! BRAVO
Many thanks for your great contribution and your dedication to help others … While some are still able to bitch with their butt at home behind a computer. Bitter comments and jealousy, great team for great results.
Glücklich
@notevenwrong:
Honestly I don’t even need to see the swimsuit pic. His face is one of the handsomest I’ve ever seen. I’m happy to leave it at that.