For those near or on Pacific Coast Highway Saturday morning, a colorful collection of cyclists could be seen riding together toward Bluffs Park and beyond. Two thousand three hundred and fifty cyclists donned an assortment of costumes as they wrapped up the homestretch of a seven-day journey.
Spirits remained high as they pulled into Malibu, stopping for a final break before completing their 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The cyclists, many of whom had not met until the start of the ride, united for a common goal: to raise money to fight HIV and AIDS during the annual AIDS/LifeCycle Ride to end AIDS.
“I knew some friends on the ride, but to put that many strangers into one small place and everyone has that sense of community, you all felt like you knew each other,” First-time rider Sister Gaia Love from Los Angeles shared about the event. “The majority of these people I had never met before in my life and it was an amazing thing to experience.”
First time rider, but not first year helping, Love has assisted with the fundraising aspect of the ride in previous years, but this was the first year Love was convinced to participate in the ride by friends. Love’s favorite part of the journey was day five, when all of the riders wore red while riding from Santa Maria to Lompoc. (The red ribbon signifies solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.) Love rode with The Sister Team, led by captains Sisters Bearonce Knows and Hava, who collectively raised more than $60,000.
This year’s ride kicked off on May 31 and ended on June 8. In addition to the 2,350 cyclists, 618 volunteer “roadies” helped make the ride possible.
“[The roadies] took care of the gear, took care of the bikes, fed us food and flagged riders to the right route along the way,” Gil Diaz, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Los Angeles LGBT Center shared.
Each year, the tour stops in Malibu for a break at Bluffs Park. The event, which is put together by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, raises money to help the nonprofit agencies provide services to people living with HIV and AIDS. According to a release from the Los Angeles LGBT Center, there are currently “1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS nationwide and more than 50,000 will become newly infected this year.”
According to the AIDS/LifeCycle website, the average cost for medical care and treatment for a person with HIV is about $20,000 per year.
Riders covered an average of 80 miles per day with varying terrain throughout the seven-day trek. The route passes through many California cities, including Santa Cruz, King City, Ventura and Santa Maria. The scenes ranged from coast to strawberry fields to foothills.
Third year rider and captain of Team Mary Evan Caldwell from San Francisco explained that his favorite part of the ride was day six, where riders covered Lompoc to Ventura.
“We start to hit the coast and it’s the most beautiful landscape that you get to go through,” Caldwell said. “There’s a place in Santa Barbara where people come out to serve riders ice cream.” Team Mary assembled 17 years ago and the founder still participates in the ride. Caldwell shared that the ride feels like being in a “love bubble” or a “utopia.”
Last year, 2,348 cyclists participated in the ride, raising more than $15 million. The first ride was in 2002, with 668 riders and almost $5 million raised.
2015 was a record-breaking year, with $16.3 million raised to fight HIV/AIDS, beating last year’s record by $800,000. Money raised will go toward supporting the San Francisco AIDS foundation as well as the HIV/AIDS services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
“I salute our AIDS/LifeCycle participants who made a commitment to bring awareness on our fight against HIV/AIDS and to reduce the stigma associated with the disease,” Diaz said. “Each of the cyclists and volunteer roadies who crossed the finish line in Los Angeles is a hero.”
Diaz explained that without the AIDS/LifeCycle ride, the organizations would have to find other ways to fundraise to continue to provide their services. But cyclists return, year after year, to help the cause.
Love raised more than $5,000 for this year’s ride and when asked if Love would return again next year, the response was definite.
“Absolutely,” Love declared. “It certainly is an experience. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s magical and I definitely plan to go back again.”
Caldwell’s Team Mary had 48 participants this year, and one person who was part of the media team. Caldwell explained that the team does its part to expand the AIDS/LifeCycle and encourage growth, year after year.
“The one thing that’s very distinguished about Team Mary is that our purpose and our goal and what it’s always been is to grow the ride and to bring more people on to the ride who haven’t done it before,” Caldwell said. “If you are brought on to Team Mary, it is a two-year commitment and you are responsible for bringing someone onto the ride that’s never done it before.”
Since its inception, Team Mary has maintained the same goal. And, according to Caldwell, the ride is a unique experience.
“Even though the ride is challenging at some points and the number of miles you’re riding, you’re still really grateful and happy to be a part of something.”
Registration for next year’s ride is now open. Visit aidslifecycle.org for more information.
