“No matter where we come from or who we are, for this week we are one and we focus on once cause — ending HIV and AIDS.” That’s from a commencement address from one of the more than 2,700 2013 AIDS/Lifecycle riders to the assembled crowd, which included people from 18 countries and nearly ever state – ranging in age from 18 to 83.
For the past 19 years, dedicated riders have pedaled their bikes 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles to help fight AIDS. This year’s AIDS/LifeCycle, the 20th anniversary of the ride, was the most successful AIDS fundraiser ever. More than $14.2 million has been raised for the HIV/AIDS-related services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Now the cyclists have marked a new milestone. Collectively, since the first AIDS Ride, they will have ridden 20 million miles. That’s equivalent to 40 round trips to the moon or around the world 800 times.
