VETERANS SPOTLIGHT
Riding For A Cause
Since 1991, Paul Bullard has committed himself and his bike to raise funds and awareness
P
aul Bullard had just wrapped up a career in the U.S. Army as a Communications Specialist and was beginning the search for his next job. The last eight years of his life had been spent at various locations across the globe, with stops in Germany and Korea for three years, providing communications for most everything the military did. Growing up he had always had a fascination with serving his country, especially considering his dad served in the U.S. Navy. But now with that stage of his life over, he wasn’t 100 percent sure what to do next. In his role with the Army, he was constantly speaking over the airwaves, and had someone mention to him that he had a voice for radio. So when he settled down back in the states, he went for it, beginning his career as a radio DJ personality. Then in 1998, around seven years into his radio career and working in Washington D.C., his friend brought up a unique opportunity. At first, Bullard didn’t know what his friend, ChiChi Egbuna, was talking about. He knew ChiChi was an avid cyclist, but when he brought up the idea of doing a 330-mile bike ride from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., he wasn’t sure if he was serious. “When he first approached me about doing the ride, my first impression would be like anyone else, ‘You’re crazy!’ but he talked me into it. I stopped driving to work and just rode my bike for training, about a 25-mile bike ride. Once I started training, I was all in. Plus, I am an Army vet, so you know I’m not backing down from any challenge.” Bullard began researching the bike ride, Washington D.C. AIDS Ride, a four-day trek from North Carolina to D.C. that raised funds to help research for those who had contracted HIV and AIDS. When he realized who would be benefiting, Bullard jumped at the opportunity. “One of the things as a radio personality, you want to be able to use your voice to promote a cause and it helps to give back to the community. You can give a voice to something that typically doesn’t have a voice. [The ride] was a challenge. It was undercover then, no one wanted to talk about AIDS and HIV. It was a win-win for me. I
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love to cycle, but I had never cycled like that.” Bullard has been heavily involved ever since the first ride. He has taken part in rides from Boston to New York City, in Texas and even riding from Dallas to New York City on the one-year anniversary of 9/11. In June, Bullard embarked on his third journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles with AIDS / Life Cycle. The seven-day, 545-mile ride helps raise awareness and funds to those living with AIDS and HIV, typically drawing more than 3,000 riders and personnel. The ride takes a year to prepare for to ensure that your legs are strong and prepared for the various stages of the ride. “The California ride is the Mamba ride of AIDS rides; it’s the biggest one they have. On top of that, when I got married in 2002, I got my wife into cycling. We did the ride in 2002 for the first time; that was our honeymoon.” Despite logging thousands of miles in his lifetime, Bullard, currently a G4S Security Officer in Dallas, keeps coming back. “It’s how I was raised and it’s just G4S’ Paul Bullard during his first ride in 1998 en route to Washington the right thing to do. D.C. He is about to embark on his third 545-mile bike ride in I have lost family and California, raising funds and awareness for AIDS and HIV. friends to AIDS, but that is not the reason why I do it. I love cycling and love helping others, so it’s a win-win. There are people still suffering from AIDS and they still need help. It’s not only my duty as a G4S Security Officer to help others, it’s my moral obligation. Plus, you’re never wrong doing the right thing.”
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G4S Military Outreach Initiatives, Awards, Recognition & Statistics Most Valuable Employer (MVE) for Military by CivilianJobs.com - 2014
26%
12,822
Number of veterans hired by G4S since August 2011 in conjunction with the White House’s “Joining Forces” campaign
Estimated number of G4S employees in the U.S. are military veterans
Military Employer of the Year Transition Assistance Online
23%
Percent of our security officers have military experience
4,900
Number of veterans hired between April 2015 and April 2016
VetJobs Outstanding Military Employer - 2014