AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) is a seven-day cycling tour through California starting in San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles. Since its start in 1994 (as California AIDS Ride between 1994-2002), the program has raised over $300 million for HIV- and AIDS-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The final ride will occur in 2025.[1]
Description
editAIDS/LifeCycle is a charity event to raise money for HIV/AIDS services and raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Participants (riders, roadies, and staff) raise money throughout the year. In the first week of June, the riders cycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles with the support of the roadies and staff. For seven days, ALC passes through communities in California as a memorial to those who have died of AIDS and as an event to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Each day of riding can range from 40-100+ miles. At the end of each day of riding, cyclists arrive in a camp to eat, shower, and rest before riding out again the next morning. Currently (as of ALC 6-8) the route is a total of about 545 miles. Mileage may change due to route/road constructions and availability of campsites.
History
editIn 2002, AIDS/LifeCycle was started by former Pallotta Teamworks Vice President Kevin Honeycutt, replacing the Pallotta Teamworks California AIDSRide after it was mired in controversy.[2]
Logo TV produced a multiple episode show for its network called 'The Ride: 7 Days to End AIDS'. The show highlights the experiences of several cyclists both those who have lost family and those who are HIV survivors. The show is available for rent from Netflix.[3]
In 2008, AIDS/Lifecycle closed registration early because of an unprecedented number of registrants.[4]
In 2024, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Los Angeles LGBT Center announced the final year for the ride being 2025, due to increasing housing costs and the lack of funds as well as support to keep the event going each year. Since COVID, there has been a huge drop each year in attendance and fundraising costs.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ [1]
- ^ The big wheel / Critics don't faze Dan Pallotta, who has helped raise big bucks for AIDS research - and his company
- ^ "7 Days to End AIDS". Netflix. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
- ^ Diaz, Gill. "Registration closes months early for world's annual AIDS fundraiser". Los Angeles LGBT Center.